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BLACK  BARTLEMY'S 
TREASURE 


The  Bboad  Highway 
Thk  Amatkur  Gbntleman 
The  Hokoukable  Mb.  Tawnish 
Beltane  the  Smith 
The  Definite  Object 
Great  Bkitain  at  Wak 
Our  Admirable  Betty 
The  Geste  of  Duke  Jocelyn 
Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 


BLACK  BARTLEMY'S 
TREASURE 


BY 


JEFFERY  FARNOI, 


BOSTON 
LITTLE.  BROWN,  AND  COMPANY 

1920 


Copyright.  1920, 
Bt  Little,  Brown,  and  Compant. 


All  rights  reserved 
Published  November,  1920 


UinVKBSITT    PBE8S,    CAMBBIDGE,   U.  B.  A. 


To  my  Nephews 
JAMES  JEFFERY  FARNOL 

AND 

RONALD  EWART  OAKESHOLT 


CONTENTS 

Chapteb  Paoii 

Prologue 1 

I     Of  What  Befell  on  Pembury  Hill 11 

II     How  I  Heard  a  Song  in  a  Wood  at  Midnight.     .  21 

III  Tells  How  I  Stole  My  Breakfast ......  28 

IV  Telleth  How  I  Met  One  Adam  Penfeather     .     .  38 
V     How  I  Came  to  Gsnisby  Shene 45 

VI     Of  My  Shameful  Sufferings  and  How  I  Was  De- 
livered Therefrom 52 

VII     How  I  Fell  in  with  One  God-be-here,  a  Peddler  62 
VIII     How  I  Had  Word  With  the  Lady  Joan  Brandon 

for  the  Third  Time 70 

IX     How  I  Swore  the  Blood-Brotherhood     ....  77 

X     Adam  Penfeather,  His  Narrative 84 

XI     Telleth  of  a  Fight  in  the  Dark 97 

XII     We  Set  Out  for  Deptford  Pool 106 

XIII  How  I  Came  Aboard  the  Faithfull  Friend   ...  112 

XIV  Tells  How  We  Were  Dogged  by  the  Black  Ship  123 
XV     Telleth  How  An  Eye  Watched  Me  from  the  Dark  136 

XVI     Concerning  the  Mark  of  a  Bloody  Hand  and  How 

I  Lay  in  the  Bilboes  on  Suspicion  of  Murder    .  1 44 

XVII     Concerning  the  Princess  Damaris 156 

XVIII     How  I  Came  Out  of  My  Bonds  and  of  the  Terrors 

of  a  Fire  at  Sea l62 

XIX     Telleth  How  We  Were  Cast  Adrift 173 

XX     Perils  and  Dangers  at  Sea 184 


viii  Contents 

Chaftsb  Fmb 

XXI  How  I  Was  Haunted  of  Black  Bartlemy ...  191 

XXII  Divers  Adventures  Upon  the  Island    .     .     .     .  199 

XXIII  I  Become  a  Jack-of-all-Trades 214 

XXIV  Of  My  Encounter  Beneath  Bartlemy's  Tree      .  226 
XXV     I  Try  My  Hand  at  Pottery 236 

XXVI     Tells  How  I  Found  a  Secret  Cave 244 

XXVII     We  Explore  the  Island 262 

XXVIII  How  I  Stood  Resolute  in  My  Folly      ....  279 

XXIX  How  My  Dear  Lady  Was  Lost  to  Me  .     .     .     .  286 

XXX  How  I  Sought  Death  but  Found  It  Not  .     .     .  298 

XXXI  How  My  Dear  Lady  Came  Back  to  Me    .     .     .  307 

XXXII  Of  the  Voice  That  Sang  on  Deliverance  Sands  .  318 

XXXIII  Of  the  Death-Dance  of  the  Silver  Woman    .     .  328 

XXXIV  Penfeather  Reappears 342 

XXXV     I  Lose  My  Lady 357 


BLACK  BARTLEMY'S 
TREASURE 


BLACK  BARTLEMY'S  TREASURE 


PROLOGUE 

The  Frenchman  beside  me  had  been  dead  since  dawn. 
His  scarred  and  shackled  body  swayed  limply  back  and 
forth  with  every  sweep  of  the  great  oar  as  we,  his  less 
fortunate  bench-fellows,  tugged  and  strained  to  keep  time 
to  the  stroke. 

Two  men  had  I  seen  die  beside  me,  yet  Death  ever 
passed  me  by;  nay,  it  seemed  rather  that  despite  the  pain 
of  stripes,  despite  the  travail  and  hardship,  my  strength 
waxed  the  mightier;  upon  arm  and  thigh,  burnt  nigh 
black  by  fierce  suns,  the  muscles  showed  hard  and  knotted ; 
within  my  body,  scarred  by  the  lash,  the  life  leapt  and 
glowed,  yet  was  the  soul  of  me  sick  unto  death.  But  it 
seemed  I  could  not  die  —  finding  thereby  blessed  rest  and 
a  surcease  from  this  agony  of  life  as  had  this  Frenchman, 
who,  of  all  the  naked  wretches  about  me,  was  the  only 
one  with  whom  I  had  any  sort  of  fellowship.  He  had  died 
(as  I  say)  with  the  dawn,  so  quietly  that  at  first  I  thought 
he  but  fainted  and  pitied  him,  but,  when  I  knew,  pity 
changed  to  bitterness. 

Therefore,  as  I  strove  at  the  heavy  oar,  I  prayed 
'twixt  gnashing  teeth  a  prayer  I  had  often  prayed,  and 
the  matter  of  my  praying  was  thus : 

"  Oh,  God  of  Justice,  for  the  agony  I  needs  must 
now  endure,  for  the  bloody  stripes  and  bitter  anguish 
give  to  me  vengeance  —  vengeance,  O  God,  on  mine 
enemy ! " 

So  prayed  I,  hoarse-panting  and  with  the  sweat  trick- 
ling down,  whiles  I  stared  at  the  naked  back  of  him 
that    rowed    before    me, — -a    great,    fat    fellow    he    had 


2  Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

been  once,  but  now  the  skin  hung  in  numberless  creases 
whereon  were  many  weals,  some  raw  and  bloody,  that 
crossed  and  re-crossed  each  other  after  the  manner  of 
lace-work. 

"  Justice,  O  God,  upon  mine  enemy !  Since  Death  is 
not  for  me,  let  me  live  until  I  be  avenged;  for  the  pain 
I  suffer  so  may  I  see  him  suffer;  for  the  anguish  that  is 
mine  so  may  I  watch  his  agony.  Thou  art  a  just  God, 
so,  God  of  Justice,  give  to  me  vengeance ! " 

The  sun  rose  high  and  higher  over  our  quarter,  beating 
down  upon  our  naked  backs  and  adding  greatly  to  our 
torments  thereby,  waking  the  pain  of  old  stripes  and 
lending  an  added  sting  to  new. 

Ever  and  anon  would  come  the  sharp  crack  of  the 
driver's  whips,  followed  by  the  squealing  cry  of  quivering 
flesh  (a  cry  wherein  was  none  of  the  human)  the  which, 
dying  to  a  whine,  was  lost  in  the  stir  and  bustle  of  the 
great  gaUeass.  But  ever  and  always,  beneath  the  hoarse 
voices  of  the  mariners,  beneath  the  clash  of  armour  and 
tramp  of  feet,  beneath  the  creak  and  rumble  of  the  long 
oars,  came  yet  another  sound,  rising  and  falling  yet  never 
ceasing,  a  dull,  low  sound  the  like  of  which  you  shall 
sometimes  hear  among  trees  when  the  wind  is  high, — 
the  deep,  sobbing  moan  that  was  the  voice  of  our  anguish 
as  we  poor  wretches  urged  the  great  Esmeralda  galleass 
upon  her  course. 

The  oar  whereto  I  was  chained  along  with  my  three 
bench-mates  had  at  some  time  been  badly  sprung,  so  that 
the  armourers  had  made  shift  to  strengthen  it  with  a  stout 
iron  fillet  some  six  inches  wide.  Now  it  so  happed  that 
my  grasp  came  upon  this  fillet  and,  with  every  stroke  of 
the  oar,  day  after  day,  week  in  and  week  out,  it  had  be- 
come my  wont  to  rub  the  links  of  my  chain  to  and  fro 
across  this  iron  band,  whereby  they  had  become  very 
smooth  and  shining. 

The  words  of  my  prayer  were  yet  upon  my  lips,  when, 
chancing  to  look  upon  one  of  these  links,  I  beheld  that 
\fhich  set  my  heart  a-leaping  and  my  riotous  blood  a-tingle 


Prologue 


to  my  fingers'  ends ;  yet  't  was  a  very  small  thing,  no  more 
than  a  mark  that  showed  upon  the  polished  surface  of 
the  link,  a  line  not  so  thick  as  a  hair  and  not  to  be  noticed 
without  close  looking;  but  when  I  bore  upon  the  link 
this  hair-line  grew  and  widened,  it  needed  but  a  sudden 
wrench  and  I  should  be  free.  This  threw  me  into  such 
a  rapturous  transport  that  I  had  much  ado  to  contain 
myself;  howbeit  after  some  while  I  lifted  my  eyes  to  the 
heaven  all  flushed  and  rosy  with  the  young  day,  for  it 
seemed  that  God  had  indeed  heard  my  prayer. 

Presently,  along  the  gangway  amidships,  came  none 
other  than  that  accursed  Portugal,  Pedro  the  whip-master, 
who,  espying  the  drooping  form  of  the  Frenchman  be- 
side me,  forthwith  fell  a-cursing  in  his  vile  tongue  and 
gave  a  prodigious  flourish  with  his  whip.  Now  by  reason 
of  much  practice  they  do  become  very  expert  with  these 
same  whips,  insomuch  that  they  shall  (with  a  certain 
cunning  flick  of  the  lash)  gash  you  a  man  as  it  were 
with  a  knife,  the  like  of  which  none  may  bear  and  not  cry 
out  for  the  exceeding  pain  of  it.  "Ha,  thou  lazy  dog!" 
cried  he.  "  Think  ye  to  snore  and  take  your  ease  whiles 
Pedro  is  aboard.'' "  And  with  the  word  the  long  lash  hissed 
and  cracked  upon  the  Frenchman's  naked  back  like  a  pistol 
shot. 

And  lo I  he  (that  meseemed  was  dead)  stirred;  I  felt  the 
scarred  body  leap  and  quiver,  the  swooning  eyes  opened, 
rolling  dim  and  sightless,  and  the  pallid  face  was  twisted 
in  sharp  anguish;  but,  even  as  I  watched,  the  lines  of 
agony  were  smoothed  away;  into  the  wide  eyes  came  a 
wondrous  light,  and,  uttering  a  great,  glad  cry  he  sank 
forward  across  the  oar-shaft  and  hung  there.  Hereupon 
this  accursed  Pedro  betook  him  to  his  whip,  smiting  right 
heartily,  but,  seeing  the  Frenchman  stirred  not  and  per- 
ceiving, moreover,  the  blood  to  come  but  slow  and  in  no 
great  quantity,  he  presently  desisted  and  bade  us  cease 
rowing  one  and  all. 

This  sudden  respite  from  labour  served  but  to  teach  me 
how  stiff  and  painful  were  my  limbs,  more  especially  my 


4  Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

left  wrist  and  ankle,  where  the  fetters  had  worn  great 
sores. 

The  wind  was  fallen  light,  and  there  rose  that  hot, 
sickening  reek,  that  suffocating  stench  that  is  like  unto 
nothing  on  earth  save  one  of  these  floating  hells  and  the 
which,  if  a  man  hath  but  sraelled  it  once,  he  shall  never- 
more forget. 

After  some  while,  back  cometh  Pedro  with  certain  of 
the  armourers,  and  (having  by  divers  methods  learned  the 
Frenchman  was  in  sooth  dead)  they  struck  off  his  fetters, 
hand  and  leg,  in  the  doing  of  which  they  must  needs  free 
me  also  (since  we  were  chained  together,  he  and  I)  and, 
binding  a  great  shot  to  his  feet,  made  ready  to  heave  him 
overboard. 

And  now,  seeing  no  man  heeded  me,  I  snapped  asunder 
the  cracked  link  and  was  free  save  for  the  heavy  chain 
that  cumbered  my  leg.  Stooping,  I  lifted  this  chain  and 
crouched  to  spring  for  the  bulwark;  but  now  (even  in  this 
moment),  remembering  all  that  I  had  suffered  at  the 
hands  of  this  most  accursed  Pedro,  I  turned,  and  wrap- 
ping the  broken  oar-chain  about  my  fist,  crept  towards 
where  he  stood  to  oversee  the  armourers.  His  back  was 
towards  me,  and  I  was  within  a  yard  of  him  when  he 
turned,  and,  seeing  me,  uttered  a  shout  and  raised  his 
whip,  but  ere  the  blow  could  fall  I  leapt  and  smote  him. 
My  iron-bound  fist  took  him  fuU  betwixt  the  eyes,  and 
looking  down  upon  his  crushed  aW  spattered  face  as  he 
lay,  I  knew  that  Pedro  the  whip-master  would  whip  men 
no  more  these  many  days. 

Then  (not  minded  to  die  by  the  whip  or  upon  a  pike- 
head)  turned  I  and  sprang  for  the  ship's  side,  but  the 
chain  about  my  leg  hampered  me  sorely  and  ere  I  could 
mount  the  high  bulwark  I  was  beset  from  behind.  So 
would  I  have  faced  them  and  died  fighting,  but  fierce 
strokes  battered  me  to  my  knees,  fierce  hands  wrenched 
and  tore  at  me,  and,  grown  faint  with  blows,  I  was  over- 
borne, my  hands  lashed  behind  me,  and  thus  helpless  I 
was  dragged  along  the  gangway  and  so  up  the  ladder  to 


Prologue  5 

the  poop  where,  plain  in  all  men's  sight,  a  whipping-post 
had  been  set  up.  Yet  even  so  I  struggled  still,  panting 
out  curses  on  them  —  French,  and  Spanish  and  English  — 
drawing  upon  all  the  vile  abuse  of  the  rowing-bench  and 
lazarette,  since  fain  would  I  have  them  slay  me  out  of 
hand  the  rather  than  endure  the  miseries  and  anguish  of 
my  lot.  Yet  this  might  not  be  (since  slaves  were  hard 
to  come  by  and  I  was  mighty  and  strong),  wherefore  I 
struggled  no  more  but  suffered  them  to  strike  off  my 
broken  fetters  and  bind  me  to  the  whipping-post  as  they 
listed.  Yet  scarce  had  they  made  an  end  when  there 
comes  a  loud  hail  from  the  masthead,  whereupon  was 
sudden  mighty  to-do  of  men  running  hither  and  yon, 
laughing  and  shouting  one  to  another,  some  buckling  on 
armour  as  they  ran,  some  casting  loose  the  great  ord- 
nance while  eyes  turned  and  hands  pointed  in  the  one 
direction;  but  turn  and  twist  me  how  I  might,  I  could 
see  nought  of  any  strange  sail  by  reason  of  the  high 
bulkhead  beside  me. 

Of  a  sudden  all  voices  were  hushed  as  up  the  poop- 
ladder  comes  the  commander  Don  Miguel  in  his  black 
armour,  who,  looking  long  and  steadily  to  windward,  gives 
a  sign  with  his  guantleted  hand,  whereon  divers  of  the 
officers  go  off  hotfoot,  some  to  muster  the  long  files  y  of 
arquehusiers,  others  to  overlook  the  setting  of  more  sail 
and  the  like.  And  now  was  a  prodigious  cracking  of 
whips  followed  by  groans  and  cries  and  screaming  curses, 
and  straightway  the  long  oars  began  to  swing  with  a 
swifter  beat.  From  where  I  stood  in  my  bonds  I  could 
look  down  upon  the  poor,  naked  wretches  as  they  rose 
and  fell,  each  and  all  at  the  same  moment,  in  time  to  the 
stroke. 

For  maybe  half  an  hour  the  chase  was  kept  up  and 
then  all  at  once  the  decks  quivered  'neath  the  discharge 
of  one  of  the  forward  culverins ;  and  presently,  as  the 
great  galleass  altered  her  course,  obedient  to  the  motion 
of  Don  Miguel's  hand,  I  beheld,  some  half-league  to  wind- 
ward, the  towering  stem  of  the  ship  we  were  pursuing. 


6  Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

whose  length  gradually  grew  upon  me  as  we  overhauled 
her  until  she  was  fairly  in  view.  She  was  a  small  ship, 
and  by  her  build  I  did  not  doubt  but  that  she  was  Eng- 
lish; even  as  I  watched,  up  to  her  mizzen-peak  fluttered 
the  English  flag.  And  hereupon  a  great  yearning  came 
upon  me  insomuch  that  of  a  sudden  her  high,  weather- 
beaten  sides,  her  towering  masts  and  patched  canvas  grew 
all  blurred  and  indistinct. 

Thrice  already  our  guns  had  roared,  yet  (though  she 
was  now  so  close  that  I  made  out  her  every  rope  and  spar) 
she  made  no  sign.  In  a  little  our  guns  fell  silent  also, 
wherefore,  looking  about,  I  beheld  Don  Miguel  standing 
beside  the  tiller  yet  with  his  impassive  gaze  ever  bent 
upon  the  foe;  and,  as  I  watched,  I  read  his  deadly  pur- 
pose, and  a  great  fear  for  the  English  ship  came  upon  me 
and  I  fell  a-praying  beneath  my  breath,  for  we  carried 
a  weapon  more  terrible  than  any  culverin  that  was  ever 
cast,  —  the  long,  sharp  ram  below  the  water. 

The  English  ship  was  now  so  near  that  I  could  see  the 
yawning  muzzles  of  her  guns  while  her  high,  curving  sides 
seemed  to  tower  over  us.  As  I  gazed,  with  my  heart  full 
of  a  pitiful  fear  for  her,  I  saw  a  head  appear  above  her 
quarter-railing,  a  very  round  head  whereon  was  a  mari- 
ner's red  cap.  Came  a  puff  of  smoke,  the  sharp  crack  of 
a  caliver  and  one  of  the  officers  beside  Don  Miguel  threw 
up  his  hands  and,  twisting  on  his  heels,  fell  clashing  in 
his  armour.  When  I  looked  again  for  the  red  cap,  it  was 
gone.  But  Don  Miguel  waited,  silent  and  impassive  as 
ever.  Suddenly  he  gestured  with  his  hand,  I  saw  the 
heave  of*  the  steersmen's  shoulders  as  they  obeyed  while 
the  air  rang  with  shouts  of  command  as,  the  starboard 
oars  holding  water,  the  larboard  thrashed  and  churned 
amain  and  the  great  Esmeralda  galleass  (turning  thus 
well-nigh  in  her  own  length)  drove  straight  for  the  side 
of  her  foe. 

Never  had  I  seen  it  better  done  and  I  set  my  teeth, 
waiting  for  the  grinding  crash  that  was  to  send  the  Eng- 
lish ship  to  the  bottom,  but,  lo !  her  creaking  yards  were 


Prologue  7 

braced  round,  and,  paying  off  before  the  wind  (which 
now  blew  strong)  she  stood  away  upon  a  course  at  right 
angles  to  her  old,  whereby  both  vessels  were  running  par- 
allel as  before.  Yet  it  had  been  close,  so  very  close 
indeed  that  as  we  drove  past  her  I  heard  the  sickening 
crack  of  our  oars  as  they  snapped  off  one  after  the  other 
against  her  side,  tossing  those  that  manned  them  in 
bloody,  struggling  heaps. 

And  now  from  every  English  gun  leaped  roaring  flame, 
the  air  was  full  of  shrieks  and  groans  and  the  crash  of 
splintering  wood  and,  through  the  eddying  smoke,  I 
could  see  many  of  our  soldiery  that  lay  in  strange,  con- 
torted attitudes,  while  others  crawled,  sobbing,  on  hands 
and  knees ;  but  on  the  scarlet-dropping  rowing-benches 
I  dared  not  look. 

Hotter  waxed  the  fight,  louder  swelled  the  din  and 
tumult  with  the  never-ceasing  thunder  of  the  guns ;  and 
amid  it  all  Don  Miguel  paced  to  and  fro,  impassive  as 
always,  the  blade  of  his  long  rapier  gleaming  here  and 
there  as  he  directed  the  fire. 

Up  rolled  the  smoke  thicker  and  denser  but,  ever  and 
anon,  through  some  rift  I  might  catch  a  glimpse  of  the 
scarred,  blackened  side  of  the  English  ship,  or  the  litter 
and  confusion  of  our  decks.  Twice  shots  ploughed  up 
the  planking  hard  by  me  and  once  my  post  itself  was 
struck  so  that  for  a  moment  I  had  some  hope  of  winning 
free  of  my  bonds,  yet,  struggle  how  I  would,  I  could  not 
move;  the  which  filled  me  with  a  keen  despair  for  I  made 
no  doubt  (what  with  the  smoke  and  tumult)  I  might  have 
plunged  overboard  unnoticed  and  belike  have  gained  the 
English  ship. 

Slowly  and  by  degrees  our  fire  slackened,  one  by  one 
the  guns  fell  silent  and  in  their  place  rose  the  more 
hateful  sounds  of  anguish.  Now  as  I  stood  thus,  my  eyes 
smarting  with  burnt  powder,  my  ears  yet  ringing  with  the 
din,  I  grew  aware  how  the  deck  sloped  in  strange  fashion ; 
at  first  I  paid  small  heed,  yet  with  every  minute  this  slope 
became  steeper,  and  with  this  certainty  came  the  knowl- 


8  Black  Bartlemy's  ''Treasure 

edge  that  we  were  sinking  and  moreover  (judging  by  the 
angle  of  the  deck)  sinking  by  the  stern. 

Hereupon,  impelled  by  that  lust  of  life  the  which  is  im- 
planted in  each  one  of  us,  I  fell  to  a  wild  struggling  against 
my  bonds,  until,  seeing  in  a  little  the  hopelessness  of  this, 
I  grew  resigned  to  despair,  and,  ceasing  my  passionate 
efforts,  looked  about  me,  for  the  smoke  was  thinned  away. 
And  truly  an  evil  sight  was  this  great  galleass,  with  its 
shot-torn  decks  and  huddled  heaps  of  dead,  its  litter  of 
broken  spars  and  dismantled  guns,  and  with  everywhere 
great  gouts  and  pools  of  blood,  while  below  and  beyond 
were  the  shattered  rowing-benches  cumbered  now  with 
awful  red  heaps,  silent  for  the  most  part,  yet  some  there 
were  who  screamed  high  and  shrill. 

Save  for  myself  and  divers  of  the  dead  the  poop  lay  de- 
serted, but  forward  such  of  the  soldiers  and  mariners  who 
yet  lived  were  fighting  for  the  boats,  and  all  was  riot  and 
confusion. 

As  I  stared  about  me  thus  I  espied  Don  Miguel  lying 
among  the  wreckage  of  a  dismantled  gun;  his  face  was 
toward  me  and  looked  as  I  had  seen  it  an  hundred  times, 
save  for  a  smear  of  blood  upon  his  cheek.  Even  as  I 
gazed  his  eyes  met  mine  full  and  square.  For  a  moment 
he  lay  without  motion,  then  (his  face  a-twitch  with  the 
eflFort)  he  came  slowly  to  his  elbow,  gazed  about  him  and 
so  back  to  me  again.  Then  I  saw  his  hand  creep  down  ta 
the  dagger  at  his  hip  to  fumble  weakly  there ;  howbeit,  at 
the  third  essay  he  drew  the  blade  and  began  to  creep 
towards  me.  Very  slowly  and  painfully  he  dragged  him- 
self along  and  once  I  heard  him  groan,  but  he  stayed  not 
till  he  was  come  within  striking  distance,  yet  was  he  sore 
wounded  and  so  weak  withal  that  he  was  fain  to  rest  him 
awhile.  And  ever  his  impassive  eyes  looked  up  into  mine 
the  while  I  nerved  myself  to  meet  the  blow  unflinching  (an 
it  might  be  so).  Once  more  he  raised  himself,  his  arm 
lifted  slowly,  the  dagger  gleamed  and  fell,  its  keen  edge 
severing  the  cords  that  Ijound  me,  and  with  a  sudden 
eflFort  I  broke  free  and  stood  staring  down  into  those  im- 


Prologue  9 

passive  eyes  as  one  in  a  dream.  Then,  lifting  a  feeble 
hand,  he  pointed  to  the  tattered  sails  of  the  English  ship 
hard  by,  and  so,  resting  his  head  upon  his  arm  as  one  that 
is  very  weary,  he  sighed ;  and  with  the  sigh  I  think  the  life 
passed  out  of  him. 

Turning,  I  was  upon  the  quarter-railing  in  a  single 
leap  and,  without  a  glance  at  the  red  havoc  behind  me,  I 
plunged  over  and  down. 

The  sharp  sting  of  the  brine  struck  me  like  a  myriad 
needle  points,  but  the  sweet  cool  of  the  waters  was  won-, 
drous  grateful  to  my  sun-scorched  body  as,  coming  to  the 
surface,  I  struck  out  for  the  English  ship  though  sore 
hampered  by  my  chain. 

Presently  coming  beneath  her  lofty  stem,  I  found  hang- 
ing therefrom  a  tangle  of  ropes  and  cordage  whereby  I 
contrived  to  clamber  aboard  and  so  beheld  a  man  in  a  red 
seaman's  bonnet  who  sat  upon  the  wreckage  of  one  of  the 
quarter  guns,  tying  up  a  splinter-gash  in  his  arm  with 
hand  and  teeth;  perceiving  me,  he  rolled  a  pair  of  blue 
eyes  up  at  me  and  nodded. 

"  Welcome  aboard,  lad ! "  said  he,  having  knotted  the 
bandage  to  his  liking.  "Be  ye  one  as  can  understand 
good  English?  " 

"  Aye !  "   said  I,  nodding. 

"  Why,  then,  bear  witness  as  I  be  a  patient  soul  and 
marciful,  marciful.  Be  witness  as  I  held  my  fire  so  long 
as  any  marciful  soul  might  by  token  that  I  knew  what  a 
broadside  can  do  among  crowded  rowing-benches  —  hav- 
ing rowed  aboard  one  o'  they  Spanish  hells  afore  now  — 
so  I  held  my  fire  till  yon  devil's  craft  came  nigh  cutting 
me  asunder  —  and  marcy  hath  its  limits.  Timothy  Spence 
o'  The  Tiger,  master,  is  me,  homeward  bound  for  the  Port 
o'  London,  and  by  this  fight  am  short  five  good  men.  But 
you  're  a  proper  big  un.  Go  f or'ard  to  the  bo'sun ;  you 
shall  know  him  by  reason  that  he  lacketh  his  starboard 
yere.  Ask  him  for  clothes  to  cover  thy  nakedness  lad, 
and  —  oho,  there  goeth  yon  devil's  craft  — !  "  Turning 
as  he  spoke,  I  saw  the  sharp  bows  of  the  Esmeralda  lift 


lo        Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

and  lift,  liigh  and  higher  and,  with  a  long-drawn  gurgling 
roar,  the  great  galleass  plunged  down  stem  foremost, 
burying  her  shame  and  misery  from  the  eyes  of  man  for 
evermore. 

Thus  then  I  sailed  with  Master  Timothy  Spence  aboard 
The  Tiger,  a  free  man  after  five  years  of  anguish. 


CHAPTER   I 

Of  What  Befell,  on  Pembury  Hill 

It  was  a  night  of  tempest  with  rain  and  wind,  a  great 
wild  wind  that  shouted  mightily  near  and  far,  filling  the 
world  with  halloo;  while,  ever  and  anon,  thunder  crashed 
and  lightning  flamed  athwart  the  muddy  road  that  wound 
steeply  up  betwixt  grassy  banks  topped  by  swaying  trees. 
Broken  twigs,  whirling  down  the  wind,  smote  me  in  the 
dark ;  fallen  branches  reached  out  arms  that  grappled  me 
unseen,  but  I  held  on  steadfastly,  since  every  stride  car- 
ried me  nearer  to  vengeance,  that  vengeance  for  the  which 
I  had  prayed  and  lived.  So  with  bared  head  lifted,  ex- 
ulting to  the  tempest  and  grasping  the  stout  hedge-stake 
that  served  me  for  staff,  I  climbed  the  long  ascent  of 
Pembury  Hill. 

Reaching  the  summit  at  last,  I  must  needs  stay  awhile 
to  catch  my  breath  and  shelter  me  as  well  as  I  might 
'neath  the  weather  bank,  for  upon  this  eminence  the  rain 
lashed,  and  the  wind  smote  me  with  a  fury  redoubled. 

And  now,  as  I  stood  amid  that  howling  darkness,  my 
back  propped  by  the  bank,  my  face  lifted  to  the  tempest, 
I  was  aware  of  a  strange  sound,  very  shrill  and  fitful, 
that  reached  me  'twixt  the  booming  wind-gusts,  a  sound 
that  came  and  went,  now  loud  and  clear,  anon  faint  and 
remote,  and  I  wondered  what  it  might  be.  Then  the  rush- 
ing dark  was  split  asunder  by  a  jagged  lightning  flash, 
and  I  saw.  Stark  against  the  glare  rose  black  shaft  and 
crossbeam,  wherefrom  swung  a  creaking  shape  of  rusty 
chains  and  iron  bands  that  held  together  something 
shrivelled  and  black  and  wet  with  rain,  a  gi*isly  thing  that 
leapt  on  the  buffeting  wind,  that  strove  and  jerked  as  it 
would  fain  break  free  and  hurl  itself  down  upon  me. 


12        Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

Now  hearkening  to  the  dismal  creak  of  this  chained 
thing,  I  fell  to  meditation.  This  awful  shape  (thought  I) 
had  been  a  man  once,  hale  and  strong  —  even  as  I —  but 
this  man  had  contravened  the  law  (even  as  I  proposed  to 
do)  and  he  had  died  a  rogue's  death  and  so  hung,  rotting, 
in  his  chains,  even  as  this  my  own  body  might  do  some  day. 
And,  hearkening  to  the  shrill  wail  of  his  fetters,  my  flesh 
crept  with  loathing,  and  I  shivered.  But  the  fit  passed, 
and  in  my  vain  pride  I  smote  my  staff  into  the  mud  at  my 
feet  and  vowed  within  myself  that  nought  should  balk  me 
of  my  just  vengeance,  come  what  might;  as  my  father  had 
suffered  death  untimely  and  hard,  so  should  die  the  enemy 
of  my  race;  for  the  anguish  he  had  made  me  endure  so 
should  he  know  anguish.  I  bethought  me  how  long  and 
deadly  had  been  this  feud  of  ours,  handed  down  from  one 
generation  to  another,  a  dark,  blood-smirched  record  of 
bitter  wrongs  bitterly  avenged.  "  To  hate  like  a  Brandon 
and  revenge  like  a  Conisby ! "  This  had  been  a  saying  in 
our  south  country  upon  a  time;  and  now  —  he  was  the 
last  of  his  race  as  I  was  the  last  of  mine,  and  I  had  come 
back  out  of  hell  that  this  saying  might  be  fulfilled. 
Soon  — ^ha,  yes,  in  a  few  short  hours  —  the  feud  should  be 
ended  once  and  for  all,  and  the  house  of  Conisby  avenged 
to  the  uttermost.  Thinking  thus,  I  heeded  no  more  the 
raving  tempest  around  me  until,  roused  by  the  plunge 
and  rattle  of  the  gibbet  chains,  I  raised  my  head  and,  shak- 
ing my  staff  up  at  that  black  and  shrivelled  thing,  I 
laughed  loud  and  fierce  and,  even  as  I  did  so,  there  leapt 
a  great  blaze  of  crackling  flame  and  thereafter  a  thunder- 
clap that  seemed  to  shake  the  very  earth  and  smite  the 
roaring  wind  to  awed  silence;  and  in  this  silence  I  heard 
a  whisper: 

"  Oh,  mercy  of  God ! " 

Somewhere  in  the  darkness  hard  by  a  woman  had  cried. 
Instinctively  I  turned  thitherward,  searching  the  night 
vainly  until  the  lightning  flared  again,  and  I  beheld  a 
cloaked  and  hooded  figure  huddled  miserably  against  the 
bank  of  the  road  and,  as  darkness  came,  I  spoke: 


of  what  Befell  on  Pembury  Hill    13 

"Woman,  doth  the  gibbet  fright  you,  or  is  't  I?  If 
't  is  the  gibbet,  go  hence ;  if  't  is  I,  rest  assured." 

"Who  are  you?"    said  a  breathless  voice. 

"One  of  no  more  account  than  the  poor  thing  that 
danceth  aloft  in  his  chains  and  for  you  as  harmless." 

And  now  she  was  beside  me,  a  dark,  wind-blown  shape, 
and  above  the  howling  tempest  her  voice  reached  me  in 
passionate  pleading: 

"Sir  —  sir  —  will  you  aid  one  in  sore  danger  and  dis- 
tress ?  " 

"  Yourself?  "  I  questioned. 

"Nay — ^indeed,  nay,"  she  panted;  "'tis  Marjorie,  my 
poor,  poor  brave  Marjorie.  They  stopped  my  coach  — 
drunken  men.  I  know  not  what  'came  of  Gregory,  and  I 
leapt  out  and  escaped  them  in  the  dark;  but  Marjorie  — 
They  carried  her  oif  —  there  is  a  light  down  the  lane 
yonder.  I  followed  and  saw —  Oh,  sir,  you  will  save 
Marjorie —    You  are  a  man  —  " 

A  hand  was  upon  my  ragged  sleeve,  a  hand  that  gripped 
and  shook  at  me  in  desperate  supplication.  "  You  will 
save  her  from — from  worse  than  death?  Speak  — 
Speak!" 

"  Lead  on ! "  quoth  I,  answering  this  compelling  voice. 
The  gripping  fingers  slipped  down  and  clasped  my  hand 
in  the  dark,  and  with  never  another  word  she  led  me  away 
unseeing  and  unseen  until  we  came  where  we  were  more 
sheltered  from  rain  and  wind;  and  now  I  took  occasion 
to  notice  that  the  hand  that  gripped  mine  so  masterfully 
was  small  and  soft,  so  that  what  with  this  and  her  voice 
and  speech  I  judged  her  one  of  condition.  But  my  cu- 
riosity went  no  further  nor  did  I  question  her,  for  in  my 
world  was  no  place  for  women.  So  she  led  me  on  at  haste 
despite  the  dark  —  like  one  that  was  sure  of  her  where- 
abouts—  until  I  suddenly  espied  a  dim  light  that  shone 
out  from  the  open  lattice  of  what  I  judged  to  be  a  small 
hedge-tavern.  Here  my  companion  halted  suddenly  and 
pointed  to  the  light: 

"Go!"  she  whispered.     "Go  —  nay,  first  take  this!" 


14       Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

and  she  thrust  a  small  pistol  into  my  hand.  "Has?e!" 
she  panted.  "  Oh,  haste  —  and  I  do  pray  God  shield  and 
bless  you."  Then  with  never  a  word  I  left  her  and  strode 
towards  the  beam  of  light. 

Being  come  nigh  the  casement,  I  paused  to  cock  the 
weapon  and  to  glance  at  the  priming,  then,  creeping  to 
the  open  lattice,  I  looked  into  the  room. 

(Three  men  scowled  at  each  other  across  a  table,  —  des- 
perate-looking fellows,  scarred  and  ill-featured,  with 
clothes  that  smacked  of  the  sea;  behind  them  in  a  comer 
crouched  a  maid,  comely  of  seeming  but  pallid  of  cheek 
and  with  cloak  torn  by  rough  hands  and,  as  she  crouched, 
her  wide  eyes  stared  at  the  dicebox  that  one  of  the  men 
was  shaking  vigorously,  —  a  tall,  hairy  fellow  this,  with 
great  rings  in  his  ears ;  thus  stood  he  rattling  the  dice  and 
smiling  while  his  companions  cursed  him  hoarsely. 

With  a  twist  of  the  hand  the  hairy  man  made  his  throw, 
and  as  the  three  evil  heads  stooped  above  the  dice,  I  clam- 
bered through  the  window,  levelled  pistol  in  one  hand, 
heavy  staff  in  the  other. 

"What  d'ye  set.?"  quoth  I.  The  three  sprang  apart 
and  stared  at  me,  quite  chap  fallen. 

"  What 's  to  do.?  "  growled  one. 

"  First  your  barking  irons  —  lay  them  here  on  the  table 
and  quick 's  the  word !  "  One  after  anotlier  they  drew  the 
weapons  from  their  belts,  and  one  by  one  I  tossed  them 
through  the  window. 

"  What ! "  quoth  one,  a  lank  rogue  with  a  patch  over 
one  eye  and  winking  the  other  jovial-wise,  "how  now, 
mate  o'  mine ;  shall  dog  bite  dog  then  ?  " 

"  Aye,"  says  I,  "  and  with  a  will ! " 

**  Nay,  nay,  shipmate,"  quoth  another,  a  plump,  small 
man  with  round  bright  eyes  and  but  one  ear,  "  easy  now  — 
easy.  We  be  three  lorn  mariners,  d'ye  see  —  jolly  dogs, 
bully  boys,  shipmate — a  little  fun  wi'  a  pretty  lass  — 
nought  to  harm,  d'  yei  see,  sink  me !  Join  us  and  welcome, 
says  I,  share  and  share  alike  —  O !  " 

"Aye,  I'll  join  you,"    quoth  I,  "but  first  —  you  wi' 


of  What  Befell  on  Pembury  Hill    15 

the  rings  —  open  the  door ! "  Here  the  hairy  fellow 
growled  an  oath  and  reached  for  an  empty  tankard  and 
thereupon  got  the  end  of  my  staff  driven  shrewdly  into 
his  midriff  so  that  he  sank  to  the  floor  and  lay  gasping. 

"  Nay  now,  shipmate,"  quoth  the  plump  man  in  wheed- 
ling tone,  but  with  round  eyes  snapping,  "  here 's  lubberly 
manners,  sink  and  scuttle  me  —  " 

"Open  the  door!"   says  I. 

"Heartily  —  heartily!"  says  he,  his  eye  upon  my 
cudgel  and,  edging  to  the  door,  drew  the  bolts  and  set  it 
wide. 

"Woman,"  quoth  I,  "run!" 

With  never  a  word  the  maid  sprang  erect,  caught  her 
torn  cloak  about  her  and,  speeding  across  the  room,  was 
gone;  wliereon  the  lank  fellow  sat  him  down  and  fell  a- 
cursing  viciously  in  Spanish  and  English,  the  plump  man 
clicked  his  teeth  and  grinned,  while  "  Rings,"  leaning 
against  the  wall,  clasped  his  belly  and  groaned. 

"  Well,  so,  my  bully  roarer,  and  what  now  ?  "  demanded 
the  plump  man  softly. 

"  Why,  now,"  says  I,  "  't  was  share  and  share  alike,  I 
mind  —  "  \ 

"  Aye,  but  she 's  off,  slipped  her  moorings,  d'  ye  see, 
my  good  lad,  and  be  damned  t'  ye  wi'  all  my  heart,"  said 
the  little  plump  man,  smiling,  but  with  the  devil  peeping 
through  his  narrow  lids. 

"  Look  'ee,"  says  I,  laying  a  groat  upon  the  table, 
"  there 's  my  all  —  come  turn  out  your  pockets  —  " 

"  Pockets  !  "  murmured  the  plump  man.  "  Lord  love 
me,  what 's  this?  Here  's  us  cheated  of  a  bit  o'  daintiness, 
here  's  Abner  wi'  all  the  wind  knocked  out  o'  him,  and  now 
here  's  you  for  thieving  and  robbing  three  poor  lorn  sailor- 
men  as  never  raised  hand  agin  ye  —  shame,  shipmate — " 

"  'Od  rot  your  bones ! "  snarled  the  one-eyed  man  and 
spat  towards  me,  whereat  I  raised  my  staff  and  he,  lifting 
an  arm,  took  the  blow  on  his  elbow  joint  and  writhed, 
cursing;  but  while  I  laughed  at  the  fellow's  contortions, 
the  plump  man  sprang  (marvellous  nimble)   and  dashed 


1 6        Black  Bartlemy*s  Treasure 

out  the  light  and,  as  I  stepped  from  before  the  window,  I 
heard  the  lattice  go  with  a  crash  of  glass.  Followed  a 
long,  tense  moment  wherein  we  all  (as  I  judge)  held  our 
breath,  for  though  the  storm  yet  roared  beyond  the  shat- 
tered casement,  within  was  a  comparative  quiet.  Thus, 
as  I  stood  in  the  dark  listening  for  some  rustle,  some 
stealthy  creeping  step  to  guide  my  next  blow,  I  thrust 
away  my  pistol  and,  changing  my  staff  to  my  right  hand, 
drew  forth  the  broad-bladed  sailor's  knife  I  carried  and 
so  waited  mighty  eager  and  alert,  but  heard  only  the  far- 
off  booming  of  the  wind.  Then  a  floor-board  creaked 
faintly  to  my  left  and,  turning  short,  I  whirled  my  staff, 
felt  it  strike  home  and  heard  a  fierce  cry  and  the  uneven 
tread  of  staggering  feet. 

"  Fight,  rogues  !  "  cried  I.  "  Here  's  meat  and  drink 
to  me  —  fight ! "  and  setting  my  back  to  the  wall  I  waited 
for  their  rush.  Instead  I  heard  a  hoarse  whispering,  lost 
all  at  once  in  a  woman's  shrill  scream  out  beyond  the  case- 
ment, and  thereafter  a  loud  voice  that  hailed : 

"  House  ho !  House  ahoy !  Light  ho !  Show  a  glim,  ye 
drunken  dogs ! "  and  here  followed  a  rush  of  roaring  sea- 
oaths,  drowned  in  a  scream  louder,  wilder  than  before. 
Then,  while  this  distressful  cry  yet  thrilled  upon  the  air, 
pandemonium  broke  loose  about  me,  shouts,  cries  and  a 
rush  and  trample  of  feet;  the  table  went  over  with  a  crash, 
and  the  darkness  about  me  rained  blows.  But  as  they 
struck  at  random  and  fierce,  so  struck  I  and  (as  I  do 
think)  made  right  goodly  play  with  my  hedge-stake  until, 
caught  by  a  chance  blow,  I  staggered,  tripped  and,  falling 
headlong,  found  myself  rolling  upon  sodden  grass  outside 
the  shattered  window.  For  a  moment  I  lay  half-dazed 
and  found  in  the  wind  and  rain  vasty  comfort  and 
refreshment. 

Then  in  the  pitchy  gloom  hard  by  I  heard  that  which 
brought  me  to  my  feet  —  an  evil  scuffling,  a  close  and  des- 
perate struggling  —  a  man's  hoarse  laugh  and  a  woman's 
pitiful  pleading  and  sobbing.  I  had  lost  my  staff,  but  I 
yet  grasped  my  knife  and  with  this  held  point  upwards 


of  What  Befell  on  Pembury  Hill    1 7 

and  my  left  hand  outstretched  before  me,  I  crept  forward 
guided  by  these  sounds.  My  fingers  came  upon  hair,  a 
woman's  long,  soft  tresses,  and  I  remember  marvelling  at 
the  silky  feel  of  them.  From  these  my  hand  slipped  to 
her  waist  and  found  there  an  arm  that  grasped  her  close, 
then,  drawing  back  my  hand,  I  smote  with  my  knife  well 
beneath  this  arm  and  drove  in  the  stout  blade  twice.  The 
fellow  grunted  and,  loosing  the  maid,  leapt  full  at  me,  but 
I  met  him  with  clenched  fist,  and  he  went  down  headlong 
and  I,  crouched  above  him  and  feeling  him  struggle  to 
his  knees,  kicked  him  back  into  the  mud  and  thereafter 
leapt  on  him  with  both  feet  as  I  had  been  wont  to  do  when 
fighting  my  fellow-slaves  in  some  lazarette.  Then,  seeing 
he  stirred  no  more,  I  left  him,  doubting  nothing  I  had  done 
his  business.  Yet  as  I  went  I  felt  myself  shiver,  for 
though  I  had  been  compelled  to  fight  the  naked  wretches 
who  had  been  my  fellow-slaves  I  had  killed  no  man  as 
yet. 

Thus  as  I  went,  chancing  to  stumble  against  a  tree,  I 
leaned  there  a  wliile;  and  now,  remembering  those  two 
blows  under  the  arm-pit,  what  with  this  stabbing  and  my 
fall  and  lack  of  food,  for  I  had  eaten  but  once  that  day, 
I  grew  faint  and  sick.  But  as  I  leaned  there,  out  of  the 
gloom  came  a  hand  that  fumbled  timidly  at  my  bowed 
head,  my  arm,  my  hand. 

"Sir  —  are  you  hurt?"  questioned  a  voice,  and  here 
once  again  I  was  struck  by  the  strange,  vital  quality  of 
this  voice,  its  bell-like  depth  and  sweetness. 

"No  whit!"  said  I.  Now  as  I  spoke  it  chanced  she 
touched  the  knife  in  my  grasp  and  I  felt  her  shiver  a 
little. 

"Did  you  —  oh,  sir  —  did  you  —  kill  him?" 

"And  wherefore  no?"  I  questioned.  "And  why  call 
me  '  sir'?  " 

"You  do  speak  as  one  of  gentle  birth." 

"And  go  like  the  beggar  I  am  —  in  rags.  I  am  no 
*  sir.' " 

"  How  may  I  call  you  ?  " 


1 8        Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

"  Call  me  rogue,  thief,  murderer  —  what  ye  will,  't  is  all 
one.  But  as  for  you,"  quoth  I,  lifting  my  head,  "  't  is  time 
you  were  gone  —  see  yonder!"  and  I  pointed  where  a 
light  winked  through  the  trees,  a  light  that  danced  to 
and  fro,  coming  slowly  nearer  until  it  stopped  all  at  once, 
then  rose  a  shout  answered  by  other  shouts,  and  a  roar  of 
dismayed  blasphemy.  At  this  my  companion  pressed 
nearer,  so  that  I  felt  her  shiver  again. 

"  Let  us  be  gone ! "  she  whispered.  "  Mar j  orie,  come, 
child,  let  us  haste."  So  we  went  on  together  at  speed,  and 
ever  as  we  went  that  small  soft  hand  was  upon  the  hand 
that  held  the  knife.  So  we  sped  on  through  the  dark, 
these  two  maids  and  I,  unseeing  and  unseen,  speaking 
little  by  Reason  of  our  haste. 

Presently  the  rain  ceased,  the  wind  abated  its  rage,  and 
the  thunder  pealed  faint  with  distance,  while  ever  and 
anon  the  gloom  gave  place  to  a  vague  light,  where,  be- 
yond the  flying  cloud-wrack,  a  faint  moon  peeped. 

Guided  by  that  slender  hand,  so  soft  and  yet  instinct 
with  warm  and  vigorous  life,  I  stumbled  on  through  leafy 
ways,  traversed  a  little  wood,  on  and  ever  on  until,  the 
trees  thinning,  showed  beyond  a  glimmer  of  the  great  high 
road.     Here  I  stayed. 

"  Madam,"  said  I,  making  some  ado  over  the  unfamiliar 
word,  "you  should  be  safe  now  —  and,  as  I  do  think, 
your  road  lieth  yonder." 

"  Pembury  is  but  a  mile  hence,"  said  she,  *'  and  there 
we  may  get  horses.  Come,  at  least  this  night  you  shall 
find  comfort  and  shelter." 

"No,"  said  I.  "No  —  I  am  a  thing  of  the  roads  and 
well  enough  in  hedge  or  rick ! "  and  I  would  have  turned, 
but  her  hand  upon  my  sleeve  restrained  me. 

**  Sir,"  said  she,  "  be  you  what  you  will,  you  are  a  man ! 
Who  you  are  I  know  and  care  not  —  but  you  have  this 
night  wrought  that  I  shall  nevermore  forget  and  now  I  — 
we  —  would  fain  express  our  gratitude  —  " 

"  Indeed  and  indeed ! "  said  the  maid  Marj  orie,  speak- 
ing for  the  first  time. 


Of  What  Befell  on  Pembury  Hill    19 

"  I  want  no  gratitude ! "  growled  I,  mighty  gruff. 

"  Yet  shall  it  follow  thee,  for  the  passion  of  gratitude 
is  strong  and  may  not  be  denied  —  even  by  beggar  so 
proud  and  arrogant ! "  And  now,  hearkening  to  this 
voice,  so  deep  and  soft  and  strangely  sweet,  I  knew  not 
if  she  laughed  at  me  or  no;  but  even  as  I  debated  this 
within  myself,  she  lifted  my  hand,  the  hand  that  grasped 
my  knife,  and  I  felt  the  close,  firm  pressure  of  two  warm, 
soft  lips ;  then  she  had  freed  me,  and  I  fell  back  a  step, 
striving  for  speech  yet  finding  none. 

"God  love  me!"  quoth  I  at  last.  "Why  must  you  — 
do  so ! " 

"  And  wherefore  not  ?  "   she  questioned  proudly. 

"  'T  is  the  hand  of  a  vagrant,  an  outcast,  a  poor  creeper 
o'  ditches  !  "   says  I. 

"But  a  man's  hand !  "  she  answered. 

"  'T  is  a  hand  that  hath  slain  once  this  night  and  shall 
slay  again  ere  many  hours  be  sped."  Now  here  I  heard 
her  sigh  as  one  that  is  troubled. 

"  And  yet,"  said  she  gently,  "  't  is  no  murderer's  hand, 
and  you  that  are  vagrant  and  outcast  are  no  rogue." 

"How  judge  ye  this,  having  never  seen  me.^"'  I  ques- 
tioned. 

"  In  that  I  am  a  woman.  For  God  hath  armed  our 
weakness  with  a  gift  of  knowledge  whereby  we  may  oft- 
times  know  truth  from  falsehood,  the  noble  from  the  base, 
'spite  of  all  their  outward  seeming.  So  do  I  judge  you  no 
rogue  —  a  strong  man  but  very  —  aye,  very  young  that, 
belike,  hath  suffered  unjustly  and  being  so  young  art 
fierce  and  impatient  of  all  things  and  apt  to  rail  bitterly 
'gainst  the  world.     Is  't  not  so?  " 

"  Aye,"  said  I,  marvelling,  *'  truly  't  is  like  witch- 
craft—  mayhap  you  will  speak  me  my  name."  At  this 
she  laughed  (most  wonderful  to  hear)  and  vastly  so  to 
such  coarse  rogue  as  I  whose  ears  had  long  been  strangers 
to  aught  but  sounds  of  evil  and  foul  obscenity. 

"  Nay,"  says  she,  "  my  knowledge  of  you  goeth  no 
further — but — "  (and  here  she  paused  to  fetch  a  shud- 


2  0        Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

dering  breath)  "  but  for  him  you  killed  —  that  two- 
legged  beast !  You  did  but  what  I  would  have  done  for  — 
oh,  man,  had  you  not  come,  I  —  I  should  have  killed  him, 
maid  though  I  am!  See,  here  is  the  dagger  I  snatched 
from  his  girdle  as  he  strove  with  me.  Oil,  take  it  —  take 
it ! "  And,  with  a  passionate  gesture,  she  thrust  the 
weapon  into  my  grasp. 

"  Oh,  madam  —  my  lady ! "  cried  her  companion. 
*'Look,  yonder  be  lights  —  lanthorns  aflare  on  the  road. 
'T  is  Gregory  as  I  do  think,  with  folk  come  to  seek  for  us. 
Shall  we  go  meet  them?" 

"  Nay,  wait,  child  —  first  let  us  be  sure !  "  So,  side  by 
side,  we  stood  all  three  amid  the  dripping  trees,  watching 
the  tossing  lights  that  grew  ever  nearer  until  we  might 
hear  the  voices  of  those  that  bare  them  raised,  ever  and 
anon,  in  confused  shouting. 

*'  Aye,  't  is  Gregory !  "  sighed  my  lady  after  some  while. 
*'  He  hath  raised  the  village,  and  we  are  safe  —  " 

"  Hark !  "  cried  I,  starting  forward.  "  What  name  do 
they  cry  upon  ?  " 

"Mine,  sir!" 

*'  Oho,  my  lady ! "  roared  the  hoarse  chorus.  "  Oho, 
my  Lady  Joan  —  my  Lady  Brandon  —  Brandon  —  Bran- 
don ! " 

"  Brandon ! "    cried  I,  choking  upon  the  word. 

"Indeed,  sir  —  I  am  the  Lady  Joan  Brandon  of  Shene 
Manor,  and  so  long  as  life  be  mine  needs  must  I  bear 
witliin  my  grateful  heart  the  memory  of — '* 

But,  waiting  for  no  more,  I  turned  and  sprang  away 
into  the  denser  gloom  of  the  wood.  And  ever  as  I  went, 
crashing  and  stumbling  through  the  underbrush,  above 
the  noise  of  my  headlong  flight  rang  the  hated  name  of 
the  enemy  I  had  journeyed  so  far  to  kill  —  "Brandon! 
Brandon !    Brandon ! "  \ 


CHAPTER   II 

How  I  Heard  a  Song  in  a  Wood  at  Midnight 

Headlong  went  I,  staying  for  nought  and  heedless  of  all 
direction,  but  presently,  being  weary  and  short  of  breath, 
I  halted,  and  leaning  against  a  tree  stood  thus  very  full  of 
bitter  thought.  The  storm  was  quite  passed,  but  a  chill 
wind  was  abroad  that  moaned  dismally,  while  all  about  me 
sodden  trees  dripped  with  mournful,  sobbing  noises.  And 
hearkening  to  all  this,  what  should  I  be  thinking  but  of 
the  sweet,  soft  tones  of  a  woman's  voice  that  had  stirred 
within  me  memories  of  better  days,  a  voice  that  had  set  me 
to  dreams  of  the  future,  to  fond  and  foolish  imaginings. 
For,  though  shamed  and  brutalised  by  my  sufferings,  I 
was  a  man  and  in  this  past  hour  (strange  though  it  do 
seem)  felt  scorn  of  myself  and  a  yearning  for  higher 
things  and  all  this  by  no  greater  reason  than  the  sound 
of  a  woman's  voice  in  the  dark  and  the  touch  of  her  warm 
lips  on  my  hand  —  and  she  a  Brandon !  And  now,  as  the 
bitter  mockery  of  it  all  rushed  upon  me,  fierce  anger 
swept  me,  and  I  broke  forth  into  vile  oaths  and  cursings  — 
English  and  Spanish,  foul  invectives  picked  up  from  the 
rogues,  my  fellows  in  misery ;  and  feeling  a  new  shame  there- 
fore did  but  curse  the  more.  So  there  crouched  I  'gainst 
the  tree,  shivering  like  the  miserable  wretch  I  was  and  con- 
sumed with  a  ravening  hunger.  At  last,  becoming  aware 
that  I  yet  grasped  a  weapon  in  either  hand,  I  thrust  my 
knife  in  my  girdle  and  fell  to  handling  this  other,  judging 
it  by  touch  since  it  was  yet  too  dark  for  eyes  to  serve  me. 
And  by  its  feel  I  knew  it  for  no  honest  knife;  here  was  a 
thing  wrought  by  foreign  hands,  a  haft  cunningly  shaped 
and  wrought,  a  blade  curiously  slender  and  long  and 
three-edged,  a  very  deadly  thing  I  judged  by  the   feel. 


2  2        Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

Now  since  it  had  no  sheath  (and  it  so  sharp)  I  twisted 
my  neckerchief  about  it  from  pommel  to  needle-point 
and,  thrusting  it  into  the  leathern  wallet  at  my  belt,  went 
on  some  way  farther  'mid  the  trees,  seeking  some  place 
where  I  might  be  sheltered  from  the  cold  wind.  Then,  all 
at  once,  I  heard  that  which  brought  me  to  a  stand. 

A  man  was  singing  and  at  no  gi*eat  distance,  —  a 
strange,  merry  air  and  stranger  words ;  and  the  voice  was 
loud,  yet  tuneful  and  mellow,  and  the  words  (the  which  I 
came  to  know  all  too  well)  were  these: 

"  Cheerly  O  and  eheerly  O, 
Right  eheerly  I  'II  sing  O. 
Whiles  at  the  mainyard  to  and  fro 
We  watch  a  dead  man  swing  O. 
With  a  rumbelow  and  to  and  fro 
He  by  the  neck  doth  swing  O ! 

"One  by  the  knife  did  part  wi'  life 
And  three  the  bullet  took  O. 
But  three  times  three  died  plaguily 
A-wriggling  on  a  hook  O. 
A  hook  both  strong  and  bright  and  long 
They  died  by  gash  o'  hook  O. 

"  So  cheerly  O  and  cheerly  O 
Come  shake  a  leg,  lads  all  O, 
Wi'  a  yo-ho-ho  and  a  rumbelow 
And  main-haul,  shipmates,  haul  O. 

"  Some  swam  in  rum  to  Kingdom  come 
Full  many  a  lusty  fellow. 
And  since  they  're  dead  I  '11  lay  my  head 
They  're  flaming  now  in  hell  O. 

"  So  cheerly  O,  so  cheerly  O  —  " 

Waiting  for  no  more  of  the  vile  rant  I  strode  forward 
and  thus  presently  came  on  a  small  dell  or  dingle  full  of 
the  light  of  a  fire  that  crackled  right  merrily ;  at  the  which 


How  I  Heard  a  Song  in  a  Wood    23 

most  welcome  sight  I  made  shift  to  scramble  down  the 
steepy  bank  forthright  and  approached  the  blaze  on  eager 
feet.  Drawing  near,  I  saw  the  fire  burned  within  a  small 
cave  beneath  the  bank,  and  as  I  came  within  its  radiance 
the  song  broke  off  suddenly,  and  a  man  rose  up,  facing  me 
across  the  i5re  and  with  one  hand  hid  under  the  flap  of  his 
side  pocket. 

"  Fibs  off  your  popps,  cull ! "  quoth  I  in  the  vernacular 
of  the  roads.  "Here's  none  but  a  pal  as  lacketh  warmth 
and  a  bite."  i 

"  Aha ! "  quoth  the  fellow,  peering  across  the  blaze. 
*'  And  who  be  you?  Stand  and  give  a  show  o'  your  figure- 
head ! "  Obediently  I  stood  with  hands  outspread  to  the 
flame,  warming  my  shivering  body  at  its  grateful  heat. 

"Well?"  said  I. 

"  Why,"  quoth  he,  nodding.  "  You  're  big  enough  and 
wild  enough  and  as  likely  a  cutthroat  as  another;  what's 
the  lay?" 

"  The  high  pad !  "  said  I. 

"Where  away?"  ' 

"'T is  no  matter!" 

"All  I  ask  is,"  quoth  the  fellow  with  a  quizzical  look, 
**  how  you  've  fobbed  the  nubbing  cheat  so  long ! " 

"  And  what  I  ask  is,"  quoth  I,  "  how  a  sailorman  comes 
to  know  the  patter  o'  the  flash  coves ! " 

"  'T  is  no  matter,"  said  he,  "  but  since  you  're  o'  the 
Brotherhood,  sit  ye  and  welcome ;  't  is  dry  enough  here  in 
this  cave." 

Staying  for  no  second  bidding,  I  entered  the  little  cave 
and  sat  me  down  in  the  comforting  warmth  of  the  fire. 
The  man  was  a  comely  fellow  of  a  hectoring,  swashing 
air,  bright  of  e^'^e  and  instant  of  gesture;  close  to  hand 
lay  a  short  cutting-sword,  pistols  bulged  his  deep  coat 
pockets  while  betwixt  his  knees  was  a  battered  case 
bottle. 

"Well,"  said  he,  eyeing  me  over,  "what's  the  word?" 

"Food!"  said  I. 

"  Nary  a  bite !  "  he  answered,  shaking  his  head.    "  But 


24       Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

here's  mm  now  if  you've  a  mind  to  sluice  the  ivories  — 
ha?" 

"Not  a  drop!" 

"Good!  The  more  for  me!"  he  nodded.  "Rum  — 
ha  — 

"  Some  swam  in  rum  to  Kingdom  come  — " 

*'  You  sing  a  mighty  strange  song ! "  quoth  I. 

"Ha  — d'ye  Hke  it?" 

"No,  I  don't!" 

"  And  wherefore  no  ?  " 

"There  seems  overmuch  death  in  it." 

"  Death?  "  cried  he  with  a  great  laugh  and  hugging  his 
case  bottle.  "Death,  says  you  —  aye,  aye,  says  I,  and  so 
there  is,  death  in  every  line  on 't.  'T  is  song  as  was  made 
for  dead  men,  of  dead  men,  by  a  dead  man,  and  there 's  for 
ye  now !  "  Here  he  lifted  the  bottle,  drank  and  thereafter 
smacked  his  lips  with  great  gusto.  "  Made  by  a  dead 
man,"  he  repeated,  "  for  dead  men,  of  dead  men,  and 
there 's  for  ye ! " 

"  I  like  your  song  less  and  less ! " 

"  You  've  a  cursed  queasy  stomach,  I  think ! "  he  hic- 
cuped. 

"  And  an  empty  one !  "   said  I. 

"  'T  is  a  song  well  bethought  on  by  —  by  better  men  nor 
you,  for  all  your  size ! "  said  he,  glancing  at  me  over  his 
bottle  with  a  truculent  eye,  and  though  his  glance  was 
steady,  I  perceived  the  drink  was  affecting  him  more  and 
more.     *'  Aye,  many  a  better  man ! "  he  nodded,  frowning. 

"As  who?"   I  questioned, 

"First,  there's  Abnegation  Mings,  as  you  shall  hear 
tell  of  on  the  Main  from  Panama  to  St.  Catherine's ;  aye, 
by  the  horns  of  Nick,  there  be  none  of  all  the  coastwise 
Brotherhood  quicker  or  readier  when  there 's  aught  i'  the 
wind  than  Abnegation,  and  you  can  lay  to  that,  my  deli- 
cate cove ! " 

^*And  who's  he?" 

**  Myself ! "    Here  he  took  another  draught  and  nodded 


How  I  Heard  a  Song  in  a  Wood    25 

at  me  in  drunken  solemnity.  "  And  look  'ee,  my  dainty 
cull,  when  you  've  seen  as  much  o'  death  as  Abnegation 
Mings,  you  '11  know  as  death  's  none  so  bad  a  thing,  so  long 
as  it  leaves  you  alone.  And  I  for  one  say  't  is  a  good  song, 
and  there's  for  ye!" 

"  And  who  else  ?  " 

"  Well,  there 's  Montbars  as  they  do  call  the  Extermi- 
nator, and  there 's  young  Harry  Morgan  —  a  likely  lad  — 
and  there  's  Roger  Tressady  and  Sol  Aiken  and  Penfeather 
—  sink  him ! " 

"  And  Abner ! "  said  I  at  a  venture. 

*'  Aye,  for  sure ! "  he  nodded ;  and  then,  "  Ha,  d'  ye 
know  Abner,  then  ?  " 

"  I  've  met  him." 

"  Where  away  ?  " 

"  In  a  tavern  some  miles  hence." 

"  A  tavern !  "  quoth  he.  "  A  tavern,  'od  rot  'em,  and 
here  's  me  hove  short  in  this  plaguy  hole !  A  tavern,  and 
here  's  my  bottle  out  —  dog  bite  me !  But  a  mouthful 
left  — well,  here's  to  a  bloody  shirt  and  the  Brotherhood 
o'  the  Coast." 

"You  drink  to  the  buccaneers,  I  think .f*"   said  I. 

"And  what  if  I  do.?" 

"  'T  is  said  they  be  no  better  than  pirates  —  " 

"  Would  ye  call  me  a  pirate,  then  ?  "  cried  he,  scowling 
and  ugly. 

"  I  would."  Quick  as  flash  he  clapped  hand  to  pocket, 
but  the  pistol  caught  on  the  lining,  and  before  he  could 
free  it,  I  had  covered  him  with  mine,  whereat  he  grew  sud- 
denly rigid  and  still.  "Up  wi'  your  fambles!"  ordered  I. 
Obediently  he  raised  his  hands  and,  taking  his  pistols,  I 
opened  the  pan  of  each  one  and  having  blown  out  the 
primings,  tossed  them  back. 

"  Snake  sting  me !  "  said  he,  laughing  iniefully  as  he  re- 
pocketed  his  weapons.  "  This  comes  o'  harbouring  a 
lousy  rogue  as  balks  good  liquor.  The  man  as  won't  take 
good  rum  hath  the  head  of  a  chicken,  the  heart  of  a  yellow 
dog  and  the  bowels  of  a  w-worm  and  bone- rot  him,  says  I. 


2  6        Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

Lord  love  me,  but  I  've  seen  many  a  better  throat  than 
yours  slit  ere  now,  my  buxom  lad ! " 

"  And  aided  too,  belike  ?  "   said  I. 

"  Why,  here 's  a  leading  question  —  but  mum !  Here  's 
a  hand  that  knoweth  not  what  doth  its  fellow  —  mum, 
boy,  mum ! "  And  tilting  back  his  head  he  brake  forth 
anew  into  his  villainous  song: 

"  Two  on  a  knife  did  end  their  life 
And  three  the  bullet  took  O. 
But  three  times  three  died  plaguily 
A-wriggling  on  a  hook  O. 
Sing  cheerly  O  and  cheerly  O, 
They  died  by  gash  o'  hook  O." 

"  And  look  'ee,  my  ben  cull,  if  I  was  to  offer  ye  all 
Bartlemy's  treasure  —  which  I  can't,  mark  me  —  still 
you  'd  never  gather  just  what  manner  o'  hook  that  was. 
Anan  says  you  —  mum,  boy,  says  I.  Howbeit,  I  say,  'tis 
a  good  song,"  quoth  he,  blinking  drowsily  at  the  fire; 
*'  here 's  battle  in  't,  murder  and  sudden  death  and  wha*  — 
what  more  could  ye  expect  of  any  song  —  aye,  and  there 's 
women  in 't  too ! "  Here  he  fell  to  singing  certain  lewd 
ribaldry  that  I  will  not  here  set  down,  until  what  with  the 
rum  and  the  drowsy  heat  of  the  fire  that  I  had  replenished, 
he  yawned,  stretched  and  laying  himself  down,  very  soon 
fell  a-snoring  to  my  no  small  comfort. 

As  for  me,  I  sat  there  waiting  for  the  dayspring;  the 
fire  sank  lower  and  lower,  filling  the  little  cave  with  a 
rosy  glow  which  fell  athwart  the  sprawling  form  of  the 
sleeper  and  made  his  red  face  seem  purplish  and  suffused, 
like  the  face  of  one  I  had  once  seen  dead  of  strangulation : 
howbeit,  he  slept  well  enough,  judging  from  his  lusty  snor- 
ing. Now  presently  in  the  surrounding  dark  beyond  the 
smouldering  fire  was  a  glimmer,  a  vague  blur  of  sloping, 
trampled  bank  backed  by  misty  trees ;  so  came  the  dawn, 
very  chill  and  full  of  eddying  mists  that  crawled  phantom- 
like, filling  the  little  dingle  brimful  and  blotting  out  the 
surrounding  trees.    In  a  little  I  arose  and,  coming  without 


How  I  Heard  a  Song  in  a  Wood    27 

the  cave,  shivered  in  the  colder  air,  shaken  with  raging 
hunger.     And  now,  remembering  my  utter  destitution,  I  \ 

stooped  to  peer  down  at  the  sleeper,  half  minded  to  go 
through  his  pockets,  but  in  a  while  I  turned  away  and  left  ' 

him  sprawled  in  his  sottish  slumber.  j 


CHAPTER   III 

Tells  How  I  Stole  My  Breakfast 

The  mist  lay  very  thick  all  about  me  but,  when  I  had 
climbed  to  higher  ground,  it  thinned  away  somewhat,  so 
that  as  the  pallid  light  grew  I  began  to  see  something  of 
the  havoc  wrought  by  the  storm;  here  and  there  lay  trees 
uprooted,  while  everywhere  was  a  tangle  of  broken  boughs 
and  traihng  branches,  insomuch  that  I  found  my  going  no 
small  labour.  But  presently,  as  I  forced  a  way  through 
these  leafy  tangles,  the  birds,  awaking,  began  to  fill  the 
dim  world  with  blithe  chirpings  that  grew  and  grew  to  a 
sweet  clamour,  ever  swelling  until  the  dark  woods  thrilled 
with  gladsome  music ;  and  I,  beholding  the  first  beam  of  sun, 
felt  heartened  thereby  'spite  my  lack  of  sleep  and  the  gnaw- 
ing of  hunger's  sharp  fangs  and  hasted  with  blither  steps. 
Thus  in  a  while  I  brake  forth  of  the  desolate  trees  and  came 
out  upon  a  fair,  rolling  meadow  with  blooming  hedgerows 
before  me  and,  beyond,  the  high  road.  And  now,  as  I 
stayed  to  get  my  bearings,  up  rose  the  sun  in  majesty,  all 
glorious  in  purple  and  pink  and  gold,  whose  level  beams 
turned  the  world  around  me  into  a  fair  garden  all  sweet 
and  fresh  and  green  while,  in  the  scowling  woods  behind, 
the  sullen  mists  crept  furtive  away  till  they  were  vanished 
quite  and  those  leafy  solitudes  became  a  very  glory. 

But  my  hunger  was  very  sore,  a  need  I  purposed  to 
satisfy  soon  and  at  all  hazards,  therefore,  having  marked 
my  direction,  I  went  at  speed  and,  crossing  the  meadow, 
came  into  the  highway  and  struck  south.  On  my  going 
through  the  woods  I  had  chosen  me  a  cudgel  in  place  of  the 
one  lost,  shortish  and  knotted  and  very  apt  for  quick 
wrist-play,  and  I  plucked  forth  my  sailor's  knife,  meaning 
to  trim  my  staff  therewith ;  but  with  it  poised  in  my  hand, 


Tells  How  I  Stole  My  Breakfast    29 

I  stopped  all  at  once,  for  I  saw  that  the  point  of  the  stout 
blade  (the  which  I  had  sharpened  and  whetted  to  an  ex- 
treme keenness),  I  perceived,  I  say,  that  the  blade  was 
bent  somewhat  and  the  point  turned,  hook-like.  Now  as 
I  strode  on  again,  the  early  sun  flashing  back  from  the 
steel,  I  fell  to  wondering  how  this  had  chanced  and,  be- 
thinking me  of  those  two  deadly  blows  I  had  struck  in  the 
dark,  I  scrutinised  my  knife,  blade  and  haft,  yet  found 
nowhere  on  it  any  trace  of  blood,  so  that  't  was  manifest 
the  fellow  had  worn  some  protection,  —  chain  shirts  were 
common  enough,  and  many  a  rogue  went  with  a  steel  skull 
to  line  his  hat.  So  it  seemed  the  fellow  lived  yet  and  (black 
rogue  though  he  was)  I  was  vaguely  glad  'twas  not  my 
hand  had  sent  him  to  his  account. 

I  was  yet  revolving  the  matter  in  my  mind  when  I 
heard  a  loud  and  merry  whistling  and,  glancing  up,  beheld 
a  country  fellow  approaching  down  a  side  lane.  He  wore 
a  wide-eaved  hat,  and  his  smock  was  new-washed  and 
speckless;  but  that  which  drew  and  held  my  eyes,  that 
which  brought  me  to  a  sudden  stand,  was  the  bundle  he 
bore  wrapped  in  a  fair,  white  clout.  So,  with  my  gaze  on 
this,  I  stood  leaning  on  my  knotted,  untrimmed  staff, 
waiting  him.  Suddenly,  chancing  to  turn  his  head,  he 
espied  me,  halted  in  his  stride,  then  eyeing  me  askance, 
advanced  again.  A  small  man  he  was,  with  rosy  face,  little, 
merry  eyes,  and  a  wide,  up-curving  mouth. 

"Goo'  marnin'  to  'ee  —  it  do  ha'  been  a  tur'ble  bad 
starm  las'  night,  master !  " 

"  Aye !  "  said  I,  and  my  heart  warmed  to  him  by  reason 
of  his  good  Kentish  tongue,  the  like  of  which  I  had  not 
heard  these  many  weary  years ;  but  at  sight  of  that  white- 
clouted  bundle  my  mouth  watered  and  hunger  gnawed  with 
sharper  tooth.  "What  have  ye  here.''"  I  questioned, 
touching  this  with  my  staff. 

"  Nou't  but  my  dinner,  master,  's  ever  was ! " 
"  Nay,"  said  I,  scowling,  "  I  think  not !  " 
*'  Aye,  but  it  be,  master ! "  he  nodded.    "  Bread  and  beef 
wi'  a  mossel  o'  cheese  like,  's  ever  was ! " 


30        Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

"Bread!  Beef!  Cheese!  Liar  —  here  is  no  dinner  o* 
yours ! " 

"  Aye,  master,  but  it  do  be  so,  sure ! "  quoth  he,  staring. 
**  My  very  own  dinner  cut  by  my  very  own  darter,  beef  an' 
bread  an'  a  mossel  o'  cheese  —  I  take  my  Bible  oath  t'  it, 
I  do  —  bread  an'  beef  an'  a  mossel  —  " 

"  Show  me !  " 

With  notable  haste  he  undid  the  wrapping,  discovering 
a  good  half-loaf,  a  thick  slice  of  roast  beef  and  a  slab  of 
yellow  cheese. 

"  Ha,  man ! "  quoth  I  'twixt  shut  teeth.  "  So  you  lied 
to  me,  then." 

"Lied  to  'ee,  master?"  said  he  faintly. 

*'You  told  me  'twas  your  dinner!" 

"  Aye,  and  so  it  be,  so  it  be,  I  lay  my  oath  —  beef,  d'  ye 
see  an'  a  mossel  —  " 

"  Nay,"  said  I,  gathering  up  the  viands,  "  here  's  my 
breakfast." 

"Is  it?"  said  he,  gaping. 

"  It  is !    Would  ye  deny  it  ?  " 

"  Not  for  a  moment ! "  said  he,  eyeing  my  staff  and  the 
gleaming  knife  in  my  belt.  "  Lordy,  no !  Only  how  was  I 
to  know  'twere  youm,  master  —  when  my  darter  cut  it 
for  her  very  own  feyther —  " 

"  We  live  and  we  learn !  "  said  I,  turning  away.  "  What 
might  your  name  be?  " 

"Full-o'-j'y  Tucker,  master." 

"Why  then,  Full-of-joy,  though  my  gain  be  your  loss, 
take  comfort  in  that  't  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  re- 
ceive. Moreover,  though  you  lack  a  dinner,  you  have  a 
daughter.  Methinks  of  the  two  of  us  you  have  the  better 
of  life  — " 

"  Why,  look  'ee  now,  master,"  said  he,  scratching  his 
shaven  chin,  "  since  you  've  got  your  breakfus'  surely,  if 
you  're  minded  t'  step  along  t'  my  cottage  down  t'  lane,  I 
can  give  ye  a  jug  o'  good  ale  t'  wash  it  down  —  "  Now 
as  he  spoke  thus,  seeing  the  sturdy  manliness  of  him,  I 
dropped  my  staff  and  reached  out  my  hand. 


Tells  How  I  Stole  My  Breakfast    31 

"Full-of-joy,"  said  I,  "a  starving  man  must  eat  by 
hook  or  crook,  but  if  you  '11  give  your  honest  hand  to  a 
thief  —  there 's  mine !  " 

The  man  stared  from  my  hand  to  my  face,  his  wide 
mouth  curved,  then,  rubbing  hand  on  snowy  smock,  he 
grasped  my  fingers  and  wrung  them  heartily,  —  a  clean 
and  honest  grip  such  as  I  had  not  known  for  many  a  long 
day. 

"Will  'ee  come,  master?"  he  questioned.  I  shook  my 
head.     Quoth  I: 

"  You  have  a  daughter,  and  I  'm  no  fit  company  for  a 
good,  sweet  maid  —  nor  ever  shall  be  for  that  matter!" 
So  saying,  I  dropped  his  hand  and,  turning,  strode  away 
down  the  road,  his  dinner  beneath  my  arm;  and  when  at 
last  I  glanced  back  I  saw  him  standing  where  I  had  left 
him,  staring  after  me,  chin  in  hand. 

Presently,  turning  in  at  a  gate  beside  the  way,  I  sat 
down  beneath  a  hedge  in  the  warm,  level  beams  of  the  sun 
and  fell  to  eating  with  huge  appetite  and  (stolen  though 
it  was)  never  tasted  food  more  sweet.  I  was  thus  raptur- 
ously employed  when  I  heard  a  dolorous  whine  and,  start- 
ing about,  beheld  a  ragged  creature  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  hedge  who  glared  at  the  food  with  wild  and  hag- 
gard eyes  and  reached  out  claw-like  hands  to  me  in 
supplication. 

"  Oh,  for  the  love  o'  Christ,  spare  a  crust ! "  she  wailed. 
"  Spare  a  bite  to  a  grannam  as  dieth  o'  hunger.  Oh,  sweet 
Jesu  —  a  mouthful  to  a  poor  soul  as  do  be  pined  for  lack 
o'food  — " 

"  Off ! "  cried  I  fiercely.  "  What  know  you  of  hunger  ? 
Away,  hag ! "  and  I  reached  for  my  staff,  whereupon  she 
wailed  and  wept  and  clawing  her  dismal  rags  about  her, 
crept  away  moaning. 

But  now  while  my  jaws  champed  ravenously,  the  food 
had  lost  its  savour;  wherefore  I  cursed  and  choked  and, 
springing  to  my  feet  made  after  her,  but,  seeing  me  fol- 
lowing at  speed,  she  cried  out  in  fear  and,  striving  to  flee 
from  me,  sank  on  feeble  knees. 


32        Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

"Old  liag!"  quoth  I,  "be  damned  for  spoiling  a  hun- 
gry man's  appetite  and  robbing  liim  of  what  he  was  at 
pains  to  rob  for  himself ! "  Then  I  thrust  the  well-filled 
napkin  into  her  clutching  fingers  and  hasted  away,  but 
her  raptured  cry  followed  me  as  I  went. 

I  trudged  on  slow  and  heavy  through  the  mud,  being 
very  weary  for  lack  of  sleep  and  mightily  do\vTicast,  heed- 
less of  the  gladsome  mom  and  the  fair,  fresh  world  about 
me,  conscious  but  of  my  own  most  miserable  estate;  in- 
somuch that  I  presently  sank  down  on  the  grass  by  the 
road  and,  with  heavy  head  bowed  between  my  hands,  gave 
myself  up  to  black  despond. 

But  now  as  I  sat  thus,  very  sick  and  sorrowful,  I  heard 
a  sound  of  wheels  and  plodding  hoofs  drawing  slowly  near 
and,  lifting  my  head  at  last,  espied  a  great  wain  piled 
high  witli  fragrant  hay  whereon  the  driver  sprawled 
asleep,  a  great  fat  fellow  whose  snores  rose  above  the 
jingle  of  harness  and  creak  of  wheels.  Now  hearkening 
to  his  snoring,  beholding  him  so  gross  and  full-fed  (and  I 
starving!)  my  sadness  gave  place  to  sudden,  hot  anger 
and,  as  the  waggon  lumbered  by,  I  swung  myself  up  behind 
and,  clambering  over  the  hay,  raised  my  staff,  minded  to 
drub  the  fellow  into  wakefulness ;  but  even  then  I  stayed 
the  blow,  for  I  spied  a  wallet  that  hung  to  the  driving  seat, 
a  large  wallet  of  plump  and  inviting  aspect.  Reaching  it 
down,  I  opened  it  forthwith  and  found  therein  a  new- 
baked  loaf,  a  roast  capon  delicately  browned,  and  a  jar  of 
small  beer.  And  now,  couched  luxuriously  among  the  hay, 
I  fell  to  work  (tooth  and  nail)  and  though  I  ate  in  vora- 
cious haste,  never  before  or  since  have  I  tasted  aught  so 
delectable  and  savoury  as  that  stolen  fowl.  I  was  yet 
busied  with  what  remained  of  the  carcass  when  the  fat 
fellow  choked  in  his  snoring,  sighed,  grunted,  propped 
himself  on  lazy  elbow  and,  catching  sight  of  me,  fell  a- 
gaping.  So  whiles  he  watched  open-mouthed,  I  finished 
what  remained  of  the  capon  and  tossed  the  bones  over 
the  hedge. 

"  Ecod ! "  quoth  he  faintly.     "  Oh,  ecod  —  my  dinner !  '* 


y 


Tells  How  I  Stole  My  Breakfast    33 

As  for  me,  having  my  mouth  full,  I  spake  not.  "  Ad's 
bobs !  "  said  he.    "  A  rascally,  robbing  thief  o'  the  roads ! " 

"  Even  so ! "  I  nodded  and  took  a  long  draught  of  his 
beer. 

"  A-eating  and  a-drinking  of  a  honest  man's  dinner, 
.by  the  Lord!"  said  he,  clenching  fat  fists.  *'0h,  ecod  — 
a  hell-fire  rogue  —  a  very  lousy,  scurvy  dog  as  shall  be 
carted  and  whipped  and  set  in  Sir  Richard's  new  pillory ! " 
At  this,  being  engaged  with  the  bread,  I  reached  out  my 
foot  and  kicked  him  (very  featly)  in  the  belly;  whereat  he 
gasped  and,  growing  thoughtful,  dolefully  watched  me 
make  an  end. 

"  If  there  is  aught  left  to  eat,"    said  I,  "  show  it  me ! " 

*'  As  fine  a  capon  as  was  ever  plucked,  by  the  Lord ! " 
he  groaned. 

"  Most  true !  "  said  I,  stretching  myself  in  the  hay. 

"  Oh !  "  quoth  he,  as  to  himself.  "  Oh,  the  pity  on 't  — 
so  foul  an  end  to  so  fair  a  bird ! " 

"  Never  whine !  "  said  I,  "  but  tell  me  how  far  hence  lieth 
Lamberhurst." 

"  Better  nor  six  mile ! "  he  sighed,  heaving  himself 
into  the  driving  seat. 

"Why,  then,  do  you  carry  me  thither." 

"  Ad's  love ! "  he  mourned.  "  'T  is  manifest  shame  a 
rogue  should  thieve  the  food  of  an  honest  man  —  a  man 
like  I  be  as  do  slave  morning,  noon  and  —  " 

"  Slave !  "  said  I,  frowning.  "  What  know  you  of  slav- 
ery? Be  curst  for  a  great,  fat  fool  that  speaketh  lies!" 
Now,  watching  him  as  I  lay,  I  saw  his  hand  close 
stealthily  on  his  heavy  whip,  but  or  ever  he  could  turn 
to  strike,  I  rose  and  fetched  him  a  buffet  'neath  the  ear 
that  pitched  him  sprawling  upon  tlie  broad  backs  of  his 
horses,  whence  (with  much  groaning  and  puffing)  he 
presently  got  him  safely  into  the  road ;  seeing  the  which,  I 
took  the  reins,  whipping  the  team  to  faster  gait  so  that 
to  keep  pace  he  must  needs  trot  it  in  the  mud. 

"  Hold !  "  cried  he.    *'  What  would  ye  wi'  my  waggon?  " 

"Ride  in  't!" 


34       Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

"  Hold !  Then  suffer  me  to  ride  likewise  for  I  'm  scant 
o'  breath  —  " 

"  Good !    I  've  been  scant  o'  breath  ere  now !  " 

"  Show  a  little  pity,  master ! "  he  groaned. 

*'  None  ever  showed  pity  on  me ! " 

"Nay,  but  —  what  harm  have  I  —  ever  —  done  thee?" 

**  Begrudged  food  to  a  starving  wretch ! " 

**  'T  was  my  dinner,  and  I  do  need  a  deal  of  feeding,  I ! 
Lord,  how  I  sweat!  Prithee,  master,  let  me  up.  How 
have  I  deserved  this  ?  " 

"  Called  me  rogue  and  thief !  " 

"  Aye,  that  I  did  —  to  my  woe.  Aye,  rogue  I  named 
thee  and  likewise  —  lousy  knave  —  and  grieve  for 't  now, 
I  do ! " 

"  And  so  needs  must  you  sweat  awhile !  "  said  I. 

And  thus  I  (aloft  and  at  mine  ease)  and  the  fat  fellow 
trotting  breathless  at  the  wheel,  we  went  awhile  (and 
never  another  word)  until,  what  with  fear  of  losing  his 
goods,  what  with  the  mud  and  heat  and  sweat,  the  poor 
gross  fool  looked  well-nigh  spent  and  all  fo redone  (as  I  had 
seen  many  a  better  man  than  he),  whereupon  I  brought 
the  waggon  to  a  stand  and  reached  down  to  stir  him  where 
he  leant  half-swooning  across  the  wheel. 

"  Hark  'ee,  fool,  dost  know;  of  one  called  Brandon  of 
Shene  hereabouts.'"' 

"  Aye,  truly  —  truly !  "  he  gasped.  "  I  do  know  — 
Sir  Richard  —  passing  well.  Ad's  bobs,  my  innards  be 
all  shook  t'  pieces,  and  I  do  be  parched  wi'  thirst." 

"  Why,  then,  up  with  you !  "  said  I  and,  giving  him  my 
hand,  aided  him  back  to  the  driving-seat.  Being  there,  he 
sighed,  groaned  and  cast  a  yearning  eye  towards  his 
wallet. 

"  Parched  wi'  thirst  I  be ! "  he  groaned. 

**  I  've  been  the  like  ere  now !  "  said  I,  and  having  gulped 
down  what  remained  of  the  fellow's  beer,  I  tossed  the  jar 
into  the  road,  whereat  he  beat  his  breast. 

"  My  beer !  "  he  wailed.  "  And  I  a-f amishing  wi'  thirst. 
Oh,  my  beer!" 


Tells  How  I  Stole  My  Breakfast    35 

**  There  's  sweet  water  i'  the  brook  yonder ! " 

*'  You  be  a  chap  wi'  no  bowels,  for  sure ! "  he  cried. 
"  Aye,  a  hard  man  you  be ! " 

"  'T  is  a  hard  world,"  said  I,  "  but  't  is  no  matter  for 
that ;  tell  me  of  Sir  Richard  Brandon." 

"  Why,  then,  you  must  know  I  am  Myles  Trueman  —  " 

"And  truly,  man,  there  be  miles  of  you,  but  'tis  no 
matter  for  that,  either  —  what  of  Sir  Richard?" 

"  I  do  be  coming  to  he,"  said  Trueman  in  surly  tone. 
"I  do  farm  Sir  Richard's  land  —  a  hard  man,  see  you, 
though  just." 

*' So  —  here's  another  hard  man." 

"  Though  a  just  —  aye,  and  a  godly !  He  hath  restored 
our  church  weathercock  an'  all  an'  set  up  a  fine,  large  and 
fair  pillory  on  the  green  —  Lunnon  couldn't  show  a  finer, 
wi'  stocks  an'  cucking  stool  complete  and  rare  to 
fancy  —  " 

"  And  findeth  he  the  wherewithal  to  fill  'em  ?  " 

"  That  doth  he !  Aha,  there  be  never  a  vagrant,  gipsy 
nor  beggar  dare  come  anigh  in  Sir  Richard's  time.  And 
witches  be  few  hereabouts  since  old  Mother  Mottridge  was 
ducked,  and  scolds  and  shrews  be  fewer  by  reason  o'  the 
brank,  d'ye  see?" 

"  Hum !  "  said  I,  "  a  right  proper  gentleman  this  !  " 

**Aye,"  quoth  Trueman,  nodding  until  his  fat  cheeks 
quivered,  "  and  one  that  doth  abhor  vagrants  and  such- 
like vermin  —  " 

"As  myself,"  said  I,  To  this  Trueman  answered 
nothing  but  fell  a-fanning  himself  with  his  hat  again,  eye- 
ing me  warily  the  while. 

"  Art  strange  in  these  parts  ?  "  he  questioned. 

"  Aye  and  no !  " 

"  Hast  met  Sir  Richard?  " 

«I  have!" 

**  Aha ! "  quoth  the  fellow,  nodding.  "  He  had  ye 
whipped,  belike?  " 

"  He  did  so." 

"For  stealing  of  a  fine,  fat  capon,  belike?  " 


36        Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

"Nay,  'twas  for  another  matter.  But  what  of  him; 
is  he  hale  o'  body,  rich  and  well  esteemed ;  is  he  strong  in 
friends  and  a  power  at  court  yet?" 

"  No,"  said  Trueman,  flicking  his  plodding  horses. 
"  Neither  one  nor  t'  other ! " 

"  How  —  not  ?  "   quoth  I.     «  And  wherefore  ?  " 

"  Because  he 's  dead  —  " 

"  Dead ! "  exclaimed  I,  starting  up.    "  Dead?  " 

"Why,  look'ee,  if  he  ain't  dead  —  leastways  —  "  But 
here  I  seized  him  by  the  throat  and,  twisting  him  round, 
shook  him  to  and  fro  till  he  choked. 

"  Rogue  —  damned  rogue !  "  I  cried  'twixt  gnashing 
teeth.     "  Will  ye  mock  me  then  —  " 

"  No  —  no ! "   he  gasped. 

"  Then  tell  me  ye  lied  —  confess ! " 

*'  Aye,  aye  —  I  '11  confess  —  anything —  anything  ye 
will,  master ! " 

"  Then  Sir  Richard  lieth  snug  in  his  manor  of  Shene  — 
doth  he  not?    Aye  or  no?  " 

"Aye  —  aye,  at  Shene  —  at  Shene!"  Hereupon  I 
loosed  him  and  falling  back  on  the  hay,  found  myself  all 
breathless  and  shaking  as  with  an  ague-fit.  And  these 
tremors  were  within  me  as  without,  since  (by  reason  of 
this  fellow's  lying  words)  I  had,  for  one  black  moment, 
doubting  God's  justice,  seen  (as  it  were)  my  countless 
anguished  supplications  for  vengeance  on  mine  enemy  so 
much  vain  breath,  and  this  my  toilsome  journey  a  labour 
to  no  purpose.  But  now,  bowing  my  head<I  (who  knew 
no  forgiveness)  humbly  prayed  forgiveness  of  God  for  my 
doubting  of  God  and  passionately  besought  Him  that  He 
would  cherish  mine  enemy  and  save  him  in  health.  And 
this  to  no  other  end  but  that  I  myself  might  destroy  him. 

"His  life,  oh,  God  —  give  this  man's  life  into  mine 
hand!"  So  prayed  I  (in  my  vain  pride  and  selfish  blind- 
ness) as  I  jogged  along  that  sunny  midsummer  mom;  and 
thereafter,  my  trembling  having  passed  from  me,  I 
stretched  myself  out  amid  the  hay  and  fell  to  blissful 
slumber. 


Tells  How  I  Stole  My  Breakfast    37 

Now  to  all  such  as,  reading  this  my  narrative,  shall 
contemn  and  abhor  me  for  the  purblind  fool  and  poor, 
desperate  wretch  I  was,  and  who,  living  but  for  murder, 
could  cry  thus  on  God  for  the  blood  of  his  fellow  man,  — 
to  all  such  I  would  say  that  none  can  despise  me  more 
utterly  than  I  who  write  these  words.  For  life  since  then 
hath  learned  me  many  truths  and  in  some  few  things  I 
am,  mayhap,  a  little  wiser. 

But,  because  I  was  proud  and  stubborn  beyond  belief, 
because  hate  begetteth  hate,  and  evil  —  evil,  so  came  I 
to  consort  and  make  fellowship  with  pirates  and  the  like 
rogues  and  to  endure  much  of  harms  and  dangers  as 
battle,  shipwreck,  prison  and  solitude;  until  God  (of  His 
infinite  mercy)  brought  me  forth  a  better  man  therefor 
and,  in  some  sense,  a  more  worthy.  All  of  the  which  I 
have  fully  and  faithfully  recorded  for  such  as  shall  trouble 
to  read  this  narrative  to  the  end. 

And  so  will  I  again  to  my  story. 


CHAPTER   IV 

Telueth  How  I  Met  One  Adam  Penfeathke 

I  AWOKE  to  find  the  wagon  at  a  standstill  and  Master 
Trueman  watching  me  with  a  scowl  the  while  his  plump 
fingers  toyed  lovingly  with  his  whipstock ;  but  as  I  roused, 
this  hand  crept  up  to  finger  his  several  chins: 

"  Yonder  lieth  Lamberhurst ! "  quoth  he  sulkily  and 
nodded  where,  in  the  valley  below,  was  a  village  with  a 
green  wherein  was  a  placid  pool  shaded  by  trees ;  and 
about  this  green  stood  white-walled  cottages,  many  of 
them  bowered  in  roses  or  honeysuckle  to  the  very  thatch 
(right  pleasant  to  the  eye),  while  beyond  these  again  rose 
gables  of  bams  or  the  pointed  roofs  of  oast-houses. 
"  Lamberhurst !  "  said  Trueman  again ;  whereon,  having 
yawned  and  stretched  myself,  I  clambered  down  into  the 
road. 

"Well?"  I  questioned,  seeing  how  he  watched  me, 
triple  chin  in  hand. 

"Well,"  quoth  he  stoutly,  "I  be  wondering  what  the 
likes  o'  you  should  be  wanting  wi'  the  likes  o'  Sir  Richard 
Brandon  o'  Shene.''" 

**  Nought  but  this,"  said  I,  shaking  the  hay  from  my 
tattered  cloak.  "I  am  come  to  watch  him  die,  and  the 
manner  of  it  shall  mayhap  be  something  slow  and  pain- 
ful ! "  and  speaking,  I  clenched  my  right  hand  to  a  sun- 
burnt fist.  Now,  looking  on  this  clutching  hand,  Trueman 
blinked  and,  saying  no  word,  whipped  his  horses,  and  the 
heavy  wain  rumbled  and  creaked  on  its  way.  But,  when 
he  had  gone  some  distance,  he  grinned  at  me  over  his 
shoulder  and  called  something  whereof  I  caught  the  words 
"labour  lost."    For  a  moment  I  was  minded  to  rim  after 


How  I  Met  One  Adam  Penfeather   39 

and  demand  his  meaning;  howbeit,  in  a  little,  I  turned 
and  went  down  the  hill,  very  full  of  thought. 

Reaching  the  village,  I  found  it  not  yet  astir,  for  the 
clock  of  the  church  tower  showed  the  time  was  but  half 
after  four;  and  now,  leaning  on  my  staff,  I  stared  up  at 
the  church  tower  with  its  new  weathercock,  brave  with 
gilding,  agleam  in  the  early  sun,  and  from  thence  turned 
my  gaze  where  (hard  beside  the  pool  upon  the  green)  rose 
the  grim  shape  of  Sir  Richard's  new  pillory.  Just  now 
it  stood  untenanted,  and  I  wondered  idly  what  unhappy 
wight  was  destined  next  to  suffer  there.  Thus  stood  I 
some  while,  staring  round  me  on  this  peaceful  hamlet 
where  all  (save  only  myself)  forgot  their  cares  a  while 
in  blessed  sleep ;  the  wide  road,  the  gabled  cottages,  oast- 
house  and  fragrant  rickyard,  —  all  was  as  I  minded  it 
five  weary  years  since;  nothing  strange  was  there  saving 
only  Sir  Richard's  hateful  pillory,  wherefore  I  smote  it 
with  my  staff  and,  cursing  him  that  set  it  there,  turned 
away. 

Now  within  a  stone's-cast  of  the  church  was  a  goodly 
tavern  with  a  weather-beaten  signboard  a-swing  above  the 
door,  whereon  was  painted  what  purported  to  be  a  leopard 
asleep  and  below  the  following  legend,  viz: 

ROUSE    ME    NOT 

and  below  this  again : 

Y^    CONISBY    ARMS. 

From  this  I  glanced  at  the  third  finger  of  my  left  hand, 
where  was  a  battered  signet  ring  that  bore  the  semblance 
of  another  sleeping  leopard  and  the  like  inscription;  and 
looking  from  the  sleeping  leopard  on  the  signboard  to  the 
sleeping  leopard  on  my  ring,  I  fell  to  deep  and  gloomy 
thought.  Howbeit,  rousing  in  a  while,  I  perceived  a  horse- 
trough  hard  by  full  of  clean  water  and  came  thither, 
minded  to  wash  the  dust  and  sweat  from  me.  But,  stoop- 
ing, I  paused  and  stood  thus,  staring  down  at  the  face 
that  scowled  up  at  me ;  a  face  lean  and  haggard  with  wide, 


40       Black  Bartlemjr  s  Treasure  ^ 

fierce  eyes   agleam  beneath  knitted  brows,   a  prominent  " 

nose  and  square  chin  with  short,  peaked,  golden  beard ;  an  : 

unlovely  face  framed  in  shaggy,  yellow  hair,  patched  and  ' 
streaked  with   silver;   and  beholding  lowering  brow  and 

ferocious  mouth  and  j  aw,  I  stood  awhile  marvelling  at  the  | 

ill  changes  evil  and  hardship  had  wrought  in  me.  ! 

For  thus  was  it  that  I  first  beheld  myself  after  five  ! 

years  of  slavery.  ] 

Ha\'ing  looked  my  fill,  I  nodded  grimly  at  my  watery 

image  and  plunged  my  face  and  head  within  the  trough  ' ! 

to  my  great  refreshment,  which  done,  I  made  shift  to  dry  ! 

myself  on  my  tattered  shirt.     Thereafter,  coming  to  the  , 
broad  oak  settle  beside  the  tavern  door,  I  sat  down  and 

fell  to  meditation.     But  now,  moved  by  sudden  impulse,  I  j 

unbuckled  the  wallet  at  my  girdle  and,  taking  thence  the  j 
strange   dagger,  unwound   the  neckerchief  that  swathed 
it    and   began    to    examine    the   weapon,    first   carelessly 

enough,   then   with   growing   interest   and  wonder.      The  ! 

blade  (as  I  have  told  elsewhere)  was  triangular  of  form,  \ 

very  narrow  and  some  eight  inches  in  length  and  exceeding  i 

sharp  of  point ;  but  that  which  drew  and  held  my  gaze  was  j 

the  wonder  of  its  haft.     I  have  seen  and  handled  many  I 

fair  weapons  in  my  day,  but  never  before  or  since  have  '< 

I  beheld  such  rare  craftsmansliip  as  went  to  the  chiselling  i 

of  this  hilt.  1 

Of  silver  it  was,  wrought  into  the  shape  of  a  standing  ' 
woman,  her   feet  poised  upon   the   small,   chiselled   cross 

guard,  her  head  forming  the  pommel ;  naked  she  stood  in  ' 
languorous  pose,  arms  raised  and  hands  locked  behind  her 
head.     The  delicate  chiselling  of  the  features  was  worn 
somewhat  by  handling  and  rough  usage,  but  even  so,  the 

evil  beauty  of  the  face  was  plain  and  manifest,  the  wanton  \ 
languor  of   the  long  eyes,   the   mocking   cruelty   of   the 
smiling  mouth ;  the  longer  I  viewed  it,  the  more  manifest 

became  the  nameless  evil  of  the  thing,  so  that  I  was  greatly  ' 

minded  to  whirl  it  into  the  horse-pond  and  be  done  with  it.  i 

But  betliinking  me  of  my  destitution  and  not  doubting  ; 

but  that  I  might  find  a  ready  market  for  a  thing  so  rare,  ! 


How  I  Met  One  Adam  Penfeather  41 

I  wrapped  it  up  again  and,  thrusting  it  back  into  my 
wallet,  stretched  myself  out  upon  the  broad  settle  and 
presently  fell  asleep. 

But  (even  as  I  slept)  methought  I  was  back  in  tor- 
ment ;  I  seemed  to  hear  again  the  crack  of  whips,  the 
harsh  cries  of  the  drivers,  the  shrill  screams  and  curses, 
the  long,  groaning  breaths  with  the  rattle  and  creak  of 
the  great  oars  as  they  swung  ceaselessly  back  and  forth; 
nay,  I  could  even  feel  the  kick  of  the  oar-shaft  that  had 
escaped  my  fainting  grasp.  So  real  was  it  all  that  I 
waked  groaning  (as  I  had  done  many  a  time  and  oft) 
waked  to  find  the  kindly  sun  making  a  glory  about  me 
and  a  blackbird  hard  by  a-piping  most  sweet  to  hear, 
while  before  me  stood  a  little,  thin  fellow  in  a  broad-eaved, 
steeple-crowned  hat,  who  peered  at  me  through  narrowed 
eyes  and  poked  at  me  with  a  stick. 

"And  how's  the  wind,  shipmate.'"'  he  questioned.  I 
sat  up  and  scowled,  whereupon  he  tucked  the  stick  beneath 
an  arm  and  stood  viewing  me,  chin  in  hand.  "  You  sleep 
mighty  sound,"  quoth  he ;  "  here  I  've  stood  a-poking  and 
poking  at  ye  with  my  stick,  d'ye  see,  and  you  snore  but 
the  louder  —  or  was  it  groans  ?  " 

"  For  the  which  poking  I  'm  minded  to  tlirow  you  into 
the  horse-pond  —  " 

"  Why,  that 's  as  may  be ! "  said  he,  falling  back  a  step. 
"But  no  offence,  shipmate." 

"  Then  leave  me  in  peace."     And  I  laid  me  down  again. 

"  You  sleep  mighty  sound,"  said  he,  "  and  your  bed 
none  so  easy !  " 

"  I  've  known  worse ! " 

"Aye  —  the  rowing-bench  of  a  Spanish  floating  hell, 
shipmate  —  ha  ?  " 

At  this,  I  started  and  turned  to  look  at  him  again.  He 
was  (as  I  say)  a  little  man  and  clad  in  suit  of  russet 
brown  (very  trim  and  sober),  but  at  his  hip  he  bore  a 
long  rapier  or  tuck,  while  in  his  ears  (which  were  trimmed 
to  points  in  mighty  strange  fashion)  swung  great,  gold 
rings  such  as  mariners  do  wear;  his  face  was  lean  and 


42        Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

sharp  and  wide  of  mouth  and  lighted  by  very  quick, 
bright  eyes,  seeming  to  take  in  all  things  with  swift- 
darting  glances.  A  scar  that  ran  from  brow  to  chin  lent 
to  him  a  certain  hangdog  air ;  as  to  his  age,  it  might  have 
been  thirty  or  forty  or  sixty  for,  though  he  seemed  vigor- 
ous and  active,  with  smooth  unwrinkled  face,  his  hair  was 
snow-white. 

"  Well,  shipmate,"  he  questioned,  meeting  my  searching 
gaze,  "  and  how  d'  ye  like  me  ?  " 

"  No  whit ! " 

"  Sink  me,  but  that  *s  plain  enough ! "  said  he,  smiling 
ruefully.    "  So  there  's  nought  in  me  as  draws  you,  then.''  " 

"  No ! " 

**  'T  is  pity,  for  I  've  a  feeling  we  shall  sail  aboard  ship 
together  yet." 

"  How  should  you  know  I  've  rowed  aboard  a  Spanish 
ship?" 

"  You  bear  the  mark,  shipmate ;  as  you  lay  a-groaning 
in  your  sleep,  I  took  occasion  to  cast  an  eye  over  ye  — 
d'ye  see — and  what  wi'  the  new-healed  scars  on  your 
wrist,  your  sunburnt  skin  and  the  desperate  sink  or  swim 
look  o'  you,  I  judged  you  new-broke  from  slavery  and 
named  a  Spanish  gaUeass  at  a  venture,  d'ye  see." 

"  You  are  an  observant  man,  it  seems,"  said  I,  frown- 
ing. 

"  I  have  a  way  o'  putting  one  and  one  together ;  't  is 
a  trick  I  've  found  useful  now  and  then ! " 

"  Ha !  "  said  I,  mighty  scornful.  "  You  'U  be  telling 
me  my  own  name  next !  " 

"Why,  as  to  that,"  said  he,  pinching  his  long,  clean- 
shaven chin  thoughtfully,  "how  would  Conisby  suit?" 

"  Damned  spy ! "  I  cried  and  caught  him  in  my  grip ; 
the  fellow  never  so  much  as  flinched,  and  there  was  some- 
thing formidable  in  his  very  quietude. 

"  Easy  all,  shipmate ! "  said  he  mildly  and  staring  up  at 
me  eye  to  eye.  "  Use  me  kindly  for  I  'm  a  timid  soul  with 
a  good  heart,  meaning  no  offence  —  " 

"  How  learned  ye  my  name?    What  devilry  is  here?  " 


How  I  Met  One  Adam  Penfeather  43 

"  None  in  the  world.  Lord  love  ye !  'T  is  just  my  trick 
of  adding  one  and  one,  d'  ye  see  —  there 's  the  ring  on 
your  finger  and  the  signboard  above  you." 

"  And  wherefore  spy  on  a  sleeping  man  ?  " 

"  Because  I  'm  a  lonely  soul  doth  seek  a  comrade.  Be- 
cause the  moment  I  clapped  eyes  on  you  I  felt  drawn 
to  ye  and,  seeing  the  scars  on  your  wrist,  knew  'em  for 
shackle  marks  —  and  't  was  a  bond  betwixt  us." 

"How  a  bond.?" 

"  Loose  me,  shipmate,  and  I  '11  show  ye."  Which  done, 
he  bared  a  long  and  sinewy  arm,  discovering  thereon 
marks  of  old  fetter  sores  like  those  upon  my  own. 

"  So  you  've  slaved  at  an  oar,  then  ?  " 

"  Aye,  shipmate !  " 

"  Endured  the  shame  of  stripes  and  nakedness  and 
filth.?" 

"  Aye,  shipmate.  And  more,  I  've  fought  for  my  life  on 
the  Inca  Death-stone  ere  now,  as  you  may  see  by  my  ears 
if  you  know  aught  of  the  Maya  Indians." 

And  here  without  so  much  as  a  "  by  your  leave  "  he  sat 
him  down  on  the  bench  beside  me  and,  leaning  forward, 
began  to  trace  idle  patterns  in  the  dust  with  his  stick. 

"  Shipmate,"  said  he,  "  I  'm  a  timid  man  —  " 

"  As  a  snake,"  quoth  I,  "  and  as  deadly !  " 

Here  he  stayed  his  drawing  to  glance  at  me  askance, 
to  sigh  and  shake  his  head.  "  You  misjudge  me,"  said  he ; 
"  howbeit  we  '11  say  cautious  —  a  cautious  man  with  an 
honest,  kindly  heart  as  yearns  to  fellowship." 

"  And  with  a  pistol  'neath  each  armpit ! " 

"  True ! "  he  nodded.  "  I  might  ha'  shot  ye  a  moment 
since  and  didn't — which  doth  but  prove  my  words,  for 
I  'm  one  as  never  harmed  any  man — without  just  cause  — 
save  once  and  that,"  here  he  sighed,  "was  years  agone. 
And  me  a  lonely  man  to  this  day.  So  't  is  I  seek  a  com- 
rade—  a  right  man,  one  at  odds  wi'  fortune  and  the 
world  and  therefore  apt  to  desperate  ploys,  one  hath 
suffered  and  endured  and  therefore  scornful  of  harms  and 
dangers,   one   as   knoweth  the  sea.     Now  let  that  man 


44       Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

pledge  me  the  blood-brotherhood,  let  him  stand  staunch 
and  faithful  —  blow  fair,  blow  foul — and  I  '11  help  him  to 
a  fortune  greater  than  ever  came  out  of  Manoa,  El 
Dorado,  or  the  Indies.     Come,  what  d'ye  say,  friend?" 

"  I  say  sheer  off  and  leave  me  to  my  sleep,  lest  I  mis- 
chief you." 

"  Ha'  ye  no  lust  for  riches,  then.?  " 

"  No  more  than  I  have  to  your  company,  and  I  love 
that  less  and  less." 

"  'T  is  pity !  "  said  he,  shaking  his  head.  "  Aye,  't  is 
pity,  for  I  do  like  you  more  and  more,  such  a  fine  blood 
and  beef,  dare-and-be-damned,  gibbet-like  figure  of  a 
rogue,  shipmate,  as  would  grace  a  cross  roads  better  than 
most,  which  is  one  reason  I  was  drawn  to  ye,  d'ye  see,  I 
being  a  quiet  soul  —  " 

"And  a  pirate,  like  as  not!^' 

"  Easy,  shipmate,  easy.  Passion  is  an  ill  word  to  steer 
by.    And  I  'm  a  lonely  man  as  seeks  a  comrade  —  " 

**  And  I  'm  a  lonely  man  that  loveth  solitude,  so  e*en 
now  will  I  go  seek  it ! "  and  I  rose. 

"  Stay  a  bit,  shipmate,  haul  your  wind  and  listen ! " 
said  he,  laying  hand  on  my  arm.  "  Stand  in  wi'  me  — 
blow  high,  blow  low  —  and  I  offer  you  wealth  untold  — 
riches,  fortune  —  " 

"  Tush ! "  said  I,  "  empty  things  all."  At  this  his  hold 
tightened  while  his  keen  gaze  held  mine. 

"  More  than  this,"  said  he  slowly,  "  I  offer  you  rank, 
honours,  power  ^nd  mayhap  —  love,  shipmate." 

"  Enough ! "  quoth  I.     "  You  offer  nought  I  desire." 

"Why  then,"  said  he,  *'in  the  Fiend's  name,  what 
would  ye  have?" 

*'  Vengeance ! "  I  answered  and,  shaking  off  his  grasp, 
I  turned  and  strode  away  along  the  dusty  road. 


CHAPTER   V 
How  I  Came  to  Conisby  Skene 

It  being  yet  full  early  for  my  purpose  I  took  to  the 
woods  and  presently  chancing  upon  a  little  stream  that 
bubbled  pleasantly  'mid  shady  willows,  I  sat  myself  down 
within  this  greeny  bower  and  fell  to  watching  the  hurry- 
ing waters  of  this  brook  and  hearkening  to  its  drowsy 
murmur.  And  lying  thus,  with  the  good  green  world 
around  me,  the  sunny  air  blithe  with  the  mellow  piping 
of  birds  and  the  soft  wind  rustling  the  leaves  about  me, 
what  must  I  have  in  mind  but  bloodshed  and  the  destruc- 
tion of  my  enemy,  insomuch  that  reaching  a  stone  from 
the  brook  I  drew  the  knife  from  my  girdle  and  set  about 
straightening  the  blade  thereof. 

I  was  thus  employed  when  all  at  once  the  leaves  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  brook  were  parted  and  a  girl-child 
appeared.  For  a  long  moment  we  eyed  each  other  across 
the  brook,  then  all  at  once  her  pretty  lips  curved  to  a 
smile. 

"  Little  maid,"  said  I,  furtively  thrusting  the  knife  into 
my  belt,  "  art  not  afraid  of  me  then?  '* 

"  Nay ! "  she  answered,  smiling  yet  and  shaking  her 
golden  head. 

"And  why?" 

"  I  do  like  your  eyes,  big  man,  kind  eyes  they  be ! "       ^ 

"Are  they?"  said  I,  glancing  from  her  smiling  inno- 
cence into  the  brook. 

"Aye,  and  your  voice  —  I  do  like  that  too  —  'tis  low 
and  soft  —  like  father's." 

"And  who's  your  father?" 

«  He  be  th'  blacksmith." 

"How  old  are  you?" 


46       Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

"  Seven,  an'  a  big  maid  I  be.  Will  'ee  aid  me  'cross  t' 
brook,  now  ?  " 

So  I  lifted  her  over,  and  there  we  sat,  side  by  side,  she 
laughing  and  talking  and  I  hearkening  to  her  childish 
prattle  with  marvellous  great  pleasure.  Presently  I  ven- 
tured to  touch  her  soft  cheek,  to  stroke  her  curls  and 
finding  she  took  this  not  amiss,  summoned  courage  to 
stoop  and  kiss  her. 

How  long  we  had  sat  thus  I  know  not  when  I  was 
aroused  by  a  shrill,  harsh  voice  and,  turning,  beheld  a 
bony  woman  who  peered  at  us  through  the  leaves. 

"  Susan  Ann !  "  she  cried.  "  Oh,  you  Susan,  come  away ! 
Come  quick,  or  I  '11  run  for  your  mother." 

"  The  child  is  safe  enough ! "  said  I,  frowning  but  clasp- 
ing the  small  damsel  closer  within  my  arm. 

"Safe?"  cries  the  woman,  turning  on  me  in  a  fury. 
"Safe  —  aye,  forsooth,  wi'  a  great,  ill  rogue  the  like  o' 
you !  Loose  her  —  loose  her,  or  I  '11  scream  and  rouse  the 
village  on  ye  for  a  wild  gipsy  wastrel  that  ye  are ! "  And 
here  the  old  harridan  railed  at  me  until  the  child  whim- 
pered for  fear,  and  even  I  blenched  before  the  woman's 
fierce  aspect  and  shrewish  tongue.  Then,  while  she  loaded 
me  with  abuse,  a  ceaseless  torrent  (and  no  lack  of  breath) 
I  kissed  the  little  maid's  tear-wetted  cheek  and  setting  her 
back  across  the  brook,  stood  to  watch  until  child  and 
woman  were  lost  to  my  sight.  Then  I  sat  down,  scowling 
at  the  hurrying  water,  chin  on  fist,  for  my  black  humour, 
banished  awhile  by  the  child's  innocent  faith  in  me,  was  re- 
turned and  therewith  an  added  bitterness.  Scowling  yet, 
I  plucked  forth  my  knife,  and,  seizing  my  staff,  set  to  trim 
and  shape  it  to  a  formidable  weapon;  and  as  I  worked  I 
cursed  this  woman  deep  and  oft,  yet  (even  so)  knew  she 
had  the  right  on 't,  for  truly  I  was  a  rogue,  an  outcast  of 
unlovely  look  and  unlovely  ways,  a  desperate  fellow  unfit 
for  the  company  of  decent  folk,  much  less  an  innocent 
child;  and  yet,  remembering  those  fearless  child-eyes,  the 
kiss  of  those  pure  child-lips,  I  sighed  amain  betwixt  my 
muttered  cursings. 


How  I  Came  to  Conisby  Shene    47 

At  last,  having  trimmed  my  bludgeon  to  a  nicety,  I  laid 
it  by  and  sat  brooding,  the  knife  betwixt  my  knees ;  now  a 
beam  of  sun  falling  athwart  the  leaves  lit  upon  the  broad 
blade  of  the  knife  and  made  of  it  a  glory.  And  beholding 
this  and  the  hand  that  grasped  it,  I  took  pleasure  to  heed 
how  strong  and  sinewy  were  my  fingers  and  how  the  mus- 
cles bulged  beneath  the  brown  skin  of  my  forearm;  and 
turning  the  glittering  steel  this  way  and  that,  I  fell  to 
joyous  thought  of  my  enemy  and  of  my  vengeance,  now 
so  near. 

"  To-night ! "  said  I  to  myself.  "  Death  ever  cometh 
with  more  terrors  in  the  dark !  To-night ! "  But  now, 
little  by  little,  my  joy  gave  place  to  anger  that  the  night 
must  be  so  long  a-coming;  and,  glancing  up,  I  cursed  the 
sun  that  it  must  needs  shine  and  the  gladsome  day  that  it 
was  not  grim  night.  And  presently  to  anger  was  added  a 
growing  fear  lest  mine  enemy  might  (by  some  hap)  elude 
me  at  the  eleventh  hour,  —  might,  even  now,  be  slipping 
from  my  reach.  Now  at  this  a  sweat  brake  out  on  me  and 
leaping  to  my  feet  I  was  minded  to  seek  him  out  and  end 
the  matter  there  and  then.  "Why  wait  for  to-night.'"' 
I  asked  myself.  "  Surely  in  the  gladsome  light  of  day 
Death  findeth  an  added  bitterness.  Why  wait  for  night, 
then.?" 

So  1  stood  awhile  abating  within  myself,  then,  catcliing 
up  my  knotted  bludgeon,  I  set  off  along  the  stream  in- 
continent, following  a  path  I  had  trodden  many  a  time 
when  but  a  lad ;  a  path  that  led  on  through  mazy  thickets, 
shady  dells  and  green  coppices  dappled  with  sunlight  and 
glad  with  the  trilling  melody  of  birds ;  but  ever  as  I  went, 
before  my  eyes  was  a  man  who  twisted  in  my  grasp  and 
died,  over  and  over  again,  and  in  my  ears  the  sounds  of 
his  agony.  And  ever  as  I  went  trees  reached  out  arms  as 
if  to  stay  me,  and  bushes  stretched  forth  little,  thorny 
fingers  that  caught  my  garments  as  if  to  hinder  me  from 
my  purpose.  But  I  brushed  them  aside  with  my  scarred 
arms  or  beat  them  down  with  my  heavy  staff,  o'er-leaping 
hedge  and  ditch  and  fallen  ti-ee  until  I  reached  the  high- 


48        Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

way,  and  even  as  I  came  there,  a  distant  clock  chimed  the 
hour  of  ten.  I  quickened  my  pace,  twirhng  my  staff  as 
I  went  so  that  the  two  or  three  wayfarers  I  chanced  to 
meet  drew  from  my  neighbourhood  and  eyed  me  mightily 
askance. 

Having  gone  thus  some  mile  or  so,  I  came  to  a  wall  that 
bordered  the  road,  a  high  and  massy  wall,  and  following 
this,  to  a  pair  of  gates  set  well  back  from  the  highway, 
with  pillars  of  stone  each  surmounted  by  a  couchant 
leopard  carved  in  the  stone.  Now  these  gates  were  of 
iron,  very  lofty  and  strong  and  fast  shut,  but  beside 
these  was  a  smaller  gate  or  postern  of  wood  hard  by  the 
gatehouse  where  stood  a  lusty  fellow  in  fair  livery,  picking 
his  teeth  with  a  straw  and  staring  at  the  square  toes  of 
his  shoes.  Hearing  me  approach  he  glanced  up  and, 
frowning,  shook  his  head  and  waved  me  away. 

"  There 's  no  road  for  the  likes  o'  you !  "  said  he,  while 
I  was  yet  at  some  distance.  "  Off  wi'  you ! "  Howbeit, 
seeing  I  still  advanced,  he  clapped  to  the  gate  and,  letting 
fall  the  bar,  cursed  me  roundly  through  the  grille. 

"  I  would  see  Sir  Richard  Brandon ! " 

**  Then  ye  can't  —  nowise.     So  be  off  and  be  danged ! " 

"  Open  the  gate  ! "  said  I. 

"  Be  hanged  for  a  murderous-looking  rogue,  a  lousy 
thief,  a  wastrel  and  a  hang^dog  knave ! "  said  he  all  in  a 
breath. 

"  All  true  enough !  "  agreed  I.  "  And  now,  open  the 
gate ! " 

"  Be  danged  for  a  prigging  gipsy  —  'A  Gad !  I  '11  have 
ye  clapped  i'  the  pillory  for  a  black-visaged  clapper- 
claw ! " 

"  Unbar ! "  said  I,  "  or  it  shall  go  plaguy  ill  wi'  you 
when  I  come  in." 

At  this  he  spat  upon  me  through  the  grille  and  chuckled. 
Now,  glajicing  about,  I  espied  a  stone  hard  by  about  the 
bigness  of  a  man's  head  and,  laying  by  my  staff,  I 
wrenched  the  stone  from  where  it  lay  and  raising  it  aloft, 
hove  it  with  all  my  strength ;  whereon  the  gate  crashed 


How  I  Came  to  Conisby  Shene    49 

open  so  suddenly  as  to  catch  the  fellow  a  buffet  that  laid 
him  sprawling  on  his  back,  and  as  he  strove  to  rise  I 
pinned  him  down  with  my  staff  and  kicked  him  heartily. 

"  And  now,"  said  I,  "  up  with  you  and  bring  me  to 
your  master." 

But  or  ever  he  could  do  aught  but  groan  and  rub  his 
hurts,  I  heard  the  sound  of  approaching  hoof-strokes 
and  turning,  beheld  a  lady  bravely  mounted  who  galloped 
furiously  towards  us  down  the  avenue.  When  almost 
upon  us  she  swung  her  powerful  beast  aside  and,  checking 
him  with  strong  wrist,  sat  looking  down  at  me  from  the 
shade  of  her  plumed  hat. 

"  What  is  this  ? "  she  demanded,  and  her  eyes  swept 
over  me  grey  and  wide  and  fearless.  "Who  —  who  are 
you  ?  " 

Now  at  the  sound  of  her  voice  so  rich  and  wonder- 
sweet,  I  felt  strangely  abashed  and,  finding  no  word, 
turned  from  her  to  scowl  down  at  the  man  I  had  pinned 
beneath  my  broken  shoe. 

*'  Who  are  you  ?  "   she  questioned  again.     "  Speak !  " 

**  A  rogue ! "  said  I,  keeping  my  head  averted,  "  a 
creeper  o'  hedges  !  " 

"  Ah  —  is  't  you ! "  said  she  In  softer  tone,  "  I  saw  you 
for  a  moment  by  lightning-flash  near  the  gibbet.  You  are 
my  man  o'  the  woods,  and  sir,  I  owe  you  much  —  very 
much  —  indeed,  sir,  if — " 

"  I  am  no  '  sir '  !  "  quoth  I  shortly. 

"  Gregory,"  said  she,  looking  down  on  the  fellow  'neath 
my  foot,  "  Gregory,  get  up  ! " 

"  Gregory,"  said  I,  "  stir  not ! " 

"Sir,  would  you  hurt  my  servant?"  said  she,  knitting 
her  slender  brows. 

"  I'  faith  !  "  I  nodded.  "  The  uncivil  rogue  forced  me 
to  burst  open  the  gate." 

*'  And  why  are  you  here?  Who  are  you?  What  is  your 
name  ?  "  cried  she  a  little  breathlessly,  and  I  wondered  at 
the  fixed  intensity  of  her  gaze. 

"  Gregory,"  said  I,  taking  my  foot  from  his  middle  but 


50        Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure^ 

threatening  him  with  my  staff,  "  I  am  come  for  no  traffic 
with  maids,  so  rise  up  and  bring  me  to  your  master." 

"  Nay,"  groaned  the  fellow,  turning  up  his  eyes,  "  't  is 
thing  impossible ;  here  's  only  my  lady  —  " 

"  And  I  seek  your  master —  is  he  within?  " 

"  Nay,"  said  Gregory,  flinching  beneath  my  staff.  "  As 
my  lady  shall  tell  'ee  —  he  is  not  here — " 

"  Ha !  "  quoth  I.  "  That  will  I  see  for  myself."  But 
as  I  turned  to  stride  up  the  avenue,  my  lady  wheeled  her 
horse,  barring  my  way. 

"  Whither  go  you  ? "  she  demanded,  her  eyes  holding 
mine. 

"  To  the  house  for  Sir  Richard.  I  have  been  at  some 
small  pains  to  gain  speech  with  him." 

"To  what  end?" 

"  Why  truly,"  I  'answered,  leaning  upon  my  staff  and 
viewing  her  eye  to  eye,  "  't  is  a  matter  of  vital  moment, 
aye  —  in  a  manner  of  speaking  —  'tis  a  matter  of  life 
and  death  betwixt  us." 

Now  as  I  stood  thus  I  could  not  but  be  conscious  of 
her  glowing,  vigorous  beauty,  her  body's  noble  shape  and 
the  easy  grace  of  her  as  she  sat  her  fretting  horse,  swaying 
to  his  every  movement.  And  to  me,  in  my  rags,  she  seemed 
no  woman  but  a  goddess  rather,  proud,  immaculate  and 
very  far  removed;  and  yet  these  proud  lips  could  (may- 
hap) grow  soft  and  tender;  these  clear  eyes  that  met  mine 
so  fearlessly  — 

The  staff  was  wrenched  from  my  loosened  grasp  and 
Gregory,  leaping  to  his  feet,  fetched  me  therewith  stag- 
gering blow  on  blow,  shouting  with  his  every  stroke: 

"Ho,  Peter!  Roger!  Will!  Ho  —  hither,  lads  all! 
Loose  the  dogs  —  hither  to  me,  a  God's  name ! " 

But,  though  mused  with  blows,  I  rushed  in  blindly  and, 
closing  with  the  fellow,  got  him  fairly  by  the  throat  and 
shook  him  to  and  fro.  And  now  was  I  minded  to  choke 
him  outright  but,  even  then,  spied  a  cavalier  who  spurred 
his  horse  against  me.  Hereupon  I  dashed  the  breathless 
Gregory  aside  and  turned  to  meet  my  new  assailant,  a 


How  I  Came  to  Conisby  Shene    51 

spruce  young  gallant  he,  from  curling  lovelock  to  Spanish 
boots.  I  remember  cursing  savagely  as  his  whip  caught 
me,  then,  or  ever  he  could  reach  me  again,  I  sprang  in 
beneath  the  head  of  his  rearing  horse  and,  seizing  the  rein 
close  by  the  bridle,  began  to  drag  and  wrench  at  the  bit. 
I  heard  shouts  and  a  woman's  cry  of  fear,  but  I  strove 
only  the  fiercer,  while  up  and  up  reared  the  great  roan 
horse,  snorting  in  terror,  his  forelegs  lashing  wildly. 
Above  tossing  mane  the  eyes  of  his  rider  glared  down  at 
me  as,  laughing  exultant,  I  wrenched  savagely  at  the  bridle 
until,  whinnying  with  pain  and  terror,  the  great  beast, 
losing  his  balance,  crashed  over  backwards  into  the  dust. 
Leaping  clear  of  those  desperate,  wild-thrashing  hooves, 
I  found  myself  beset  by  divers  fellows  armed  with  staves 
who  closed  upon  me,  shouting;  and  above  these,  her  eyes 
wide,  her  full,  red  lips  close-set,  my  lady  looked  down  on 
me  and  I  (meeting  that  look)  laughed,  even  as  her  fellows 
rushed  me. 

"  Go  cosset  your  pretty  springald,  wench ! "  But  even 
then,  dazed  and  half-blinded  by  a  hail  of  blows,  I  stag- 
gered, sank  to  my  knees,  struggled  up  again,  smiting  with 
bare  fists.  A  flame  seemed  to  flash  before  my  eyes,  a  taste 
of  blood  was  on  nny  tongue,  and  all  sounds  grew  faint  and 
far  away  as,  stumbling  blindly,  I  threw  up  my  arms, 
tripped  and  plunged  down  and  down  into  an  engulfing 
darkness  and  knew  no  more. 


CHAPTER    VI 

Of  My  Shameful  Sufferings  and  How  I  Was 
Delivebed  Therefrom 

I  awoke  with  a  sound  in  my  ears  like  the  never-ceasing 
surge  and  hiss  of  waters,  a  sound  that  waxed  ever  louder. 
Heakening  to  this,  I  presently  sought  to  move  and  won- 
dered, vaguely  uneasy,  to  find  this  impossible;  I  strove 
now  to  lift  my  right  hand,  found  it  fast  held,  tried  my 
left  and  found  it  in  like  case  and  so  became  conscious  of 
something  that  gripped  me  about  the  throat,  and  ever  my 
wonder  and  unease  grew.  And  now,  opening  my  eyes,  the 
first  thing  they  lighted  on  was  a  small  pool  of  blood  and 
beyond  this  a  battered  turnip,  and  beyond  this  the  carcass 
of  a  dead  cat,  and  beyond  this  again,  a  pair  of  trim, 
buckled  shoes,  cotton  stockings,  wide  breeches  and  a  broad 
belt  where  swung  a  tuck  or  rapier  prodigiously  long  of 
blade;  in  a  while  (my  eyes  ranging  higher  yet)  I  beheld 
a  thin  face  scarred  from  mouth  to  eyebrow,  a  brown  face 
with  bright,  very  quick  eyes  and  strange  ears,  they  being 
cut  to  points  like  a  dog's  ears.  Now  looking  at  this  face, 
it  seemed  to  me  in  hazy  fashion  tliat  somewhere  and  at 
some  time  I  had  seen  such  a  face  before. 

All  this  while,  the  noise  I  have  likened  to  the  sea  had 
been  growing  louder,  so  that  I  began  to  recognise  voices 
and  even  words  and,  lifting  my  head  as  well  as  I  might 
(by  reason  of  the  thing  that  gripped  my  throat)  I  saw 
faces  all  about  me.  They  hemmed  me  in  on  every  side  and 
stretched  away  to  the  churchyard  wall. 

Then,  all  at  once,  the  knowledge  of  my  situation  rushed 
upon  me ;  I  was  in  the  pillory. 

"  Huroor !    'E  be  a-comin*  round ! "  cried  a  voice. 


of  My  Shameful  SufFerings       53 

*'  Time,  too ! "  shouted  a  great,  strapping  fellow  near-by. 
*'  'T  is  sinful  shame  to  waste  good  bad-eggs  on  rogue  as 
knoweth  not  when  'e  do  be  hit !  He  be  a  mark  as  babe 
could  n't  miss  —  a  proper  big  'un !  "  So  saying,  the  fel- 
low let  fly  an  egg  at  me,  the  which,  striking  the  board 
within  an  inch  of  my  face,  filled  the  air  with  suffocating 
stench. 

This  was  a  signal  for  me  to  become  a  target  for  all 
the  garbage  of  the  village.  And  now,  indeed,  good  cause 
had  I  to  be  thankful  for  my  thick  mane  of  hair  which  (in 
some  sort)  saved  me  from  sundry  cuts  and  bruises,  how- 
beit  my  face  was  soon  clotted  with  blood  and  filth. 

Vain  were  it  to  tell  all  the  frenzy  of  rage  that  possessed 
me  as  I  stood  thus  helpless  against  my  howling  tormentors, 
chief  of  whom  was  the  great  fellow  I  have  mentioned 
who  (by  reason  of  height  and  length  of  arm)  struck  me 
oftenest;  once  indeed  when  (beside  myself  with  fury)  I 
raised  my  head  to  curse  him,  he  took  me  a  blow  in  the 
mouth  with  some  vile  missile  that  set  my  very  gums 
a-bleeding. 

"Lord  love  ye,  shipmate ■ — that's  the  spirit!"  said  a 
voice  below  me.  "  But  keep  the  wind  o'  them  —  don't  let 
'em  rake  ye  —  douse  your  figurehead.  Lie  low,  shipmate, 
lie  low  and  trust  to  your  comrade,  Adam  Penfeather  — 
and  that 's  me.     Patience  is  the  word !  " 

Looking  whence  the  voice  came,  I  beheld  the  man  with 
whom  I  had  talked  that  morning;  now  as  our  glances 
met,  one  of  his  bright  eyes  closed  slowly  and,  nodding 
twice,  he  turned  and  elbowed  his  way  through  the  crowd. 
Small  liking  had  I  for  this  fellow,  but  with  his  departure 
a  sense  of  loneliness  gripped  me,  and  needs  must  I  lift 
my  head  to  stare  after  him,  whereupon  a  rotten  egg  struck 
me  above  the  eye,  causing  a  most  intolerable  smart.  At 
this  moment,  too,  the  great  fellow  swung  a  cat's  carcass 
by  the  tail  but,  or  ever  he  could  hurl  tliis  stinking  missile, 
a  hand  clouted  him  heavily  over  the  ear  from  behind, 
tumbling  his  hat  off,  whereupon  he  turned,  bellowing  with 
rage,  and  smote  his  nearest  neighbour  with  the  foul  thing 


54        Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

meant  for  me.  In  an  instant  all  was  uproar  around  these 
two,  as  the  crowd,  forgetting  me,  surged  about  them. 
Thus  for  some  while,  during  which  the  fight  raged,  I  was 
left  unmolested  and  looked  hither  and  thither  amid  the 
swaying  throng  for  this  fellow,  Adam  Penfeather,  but  he 
was  vanished  quite. 

At  length,  the  big  fellow  having  sufficiently  trounced 
his  opponent,  the  crowd  betook  itself  (and  very  joyously) 
to  my  further  baiting  and  torment.  Now  as  I  hung  thus 
in  my  shame  and  misery,  faint  with  my  hurts  and  parched 
with  cruel  thirst,  my.  gaze  lighted  upon  a  small,  bony  man 
—  a  merry-eyed  fellow  with  wide,  up-curving  mouth  — 
who  laughed  and  jested  continually;  it  was  as  he  stooped 
for  some  missile  or  other  that  his  eye  met  mine,  and  in 
that  bright  eye  methought  I  read  a  sudden  pity. 

*'0h,  cull,"  says  I  hoarsely,  "a  mouthful  o'  water — " 

"  Pal,"  says  he,  winking,  "  all 's  bowmon !  "  Whereupon 
he  turned  and  vanished  in  the  crowd  and  I,  burning  in  a 
fever  of  thirst,  panted  for  his  return,  straining  my  eyes 
for  sight  of  him;  then,  as  he  came  not,  I  groaned  and 
drooped  my  head,  and  lo !  even  then  he  was  before  me  bear- 
ing a  tin  pannikin  full  of  water.  This  in  hand,  he 
mounted  the  steps  of  the  pillory  and,  despite  the  jeers  and 
hootings  of  the  crowd,  was  hfting  the  life-giving  water 
to  my  eager  lips  when  forth  leapt  the  big  fellow  and  sent 
water  and  pannikin  flying  with  a  savage  blow  of  his  fist. 

*'  None  o'  that,  peddler ! "  he  roared.  And  now,  as  I 
groaned  and  licked  at  bleeding  lips  with  swollen  tongue, 
the  little  man  turned  (quick  as  flash)  tripped  up  the  great 
fellow's  heels  and,  staying  for  no  more,  made  off  through 
the  crowd  that  gave  him  passage,  howling  its  acclaim. 

The  afternoon  dragged  wearily  on  and,  what  with  the 
suffocating  stench  of  the  filth  that  plastered  me,  what  with 
heat  and  dust  and  agonising  thirst,  my  suffering  grew  al- 
most beyond  endurance;  a  deadly  nausea  seized  me  and 
I  came  nigh  to  swooning.  But  now,  in  this  my  great  ex- 
tremity, of  a  sudden,  from  somewhere  on  the  outskirts  of 
the  crowd  rose  a  shrill  cry  of  "  Fire ! "  the  which  cry,  being 


of  My  Shameful  Sufferings       5  5 

taken  up  bj  others,  filled  the  air  with  panic;  the  crowd 
melted  as  if  by  magic  until  the  village  green  and  the  road 
were  quite  deserted.  All  this  I  noted  but  dimly  (being 
more  dead  than  alive),  when  I  became  conscious  of  one 
that  spake  in  my  ear. 

"  Stand  by,  shipmate,  stand  by !  There 's  never  a 
rogue  left  —  all  run  to  the  fire  —  stand  by  to  slip  your 
mooi*ings ! " 

"  Let  be,"  I  groaned.     "  I  'm  a  dead  man !  '* 

"  Then  here 's  that  shall  make  ye  quick,"  said  this  fel- 
low Penfeather,  dangling  a  great  key  before  my  swimming 
eyes.  "  Here 's  freedom  from  your  devil's  trap  and  a 
plaguy  time  I  've  had  to  come  by  it." 

"  Then  for  the  love  o'  God  —  let  me  out,"  I  groaned. 

"  Easy  all,  shipmate ! "  said  he,  turning  the  key  upon 
his  finger.  "  For  look  'ee  now,  here  's  me  (a  timid  man) 
run  no  small  risk  this  last  half  hour  and  all  for  you.  Now 
a  bargain's  a  bargain,  you'll  agree?" 

"WeU.?"  said  I  faintly. 

"Why,  then,  shipmate,  if  I  free  ye  of  your  bonds,  wilt 
be  my  comrade  sworn.''     Aye  or  no.^*  " 

"  No  !  "  said  I.  "  Plague  take  ye  that  bargain  with 
dying  man.     No !  " 

"  Why,  then,"  sighed  he,  "  here 's  a  good  rick  ablaze, 
here 's  John  Purdy  the  beadle  wi'  his  head  broke,  and 
here 's  me  in  a  sweat,  alack  —  and  all  to  no  purpose,  since 
needs  must  you  in  your  bilboes  bide." 

"  Do  but  get  me  a  draught  of  water ! "  I  pleaded. 

"  Nary  a  drop ! "  said  he,  spinning  the  key  on  his  finger 
under  my  nose.  "  Nor  yet  a  foaming  stoup  o'  good 
Kentish  ale  —  nut-brown  —  " 

"Ha,  rogue  —  rogue!"  I  panted  'twixt  parched  lips. 
"  I  '11  yet  —  avenge  this  torment  —  an'  I  live ! " 

"  The  legs  of  a  man,"  said  he,  "  are  a  vain  thing  and 
his  strength  likewise,  and  as  to  vengeance,  shipmate,  well 
—  how  goeth  your  vengeance  as  be  more  to  ye  than  fortune 
or  riches.'' "  Here  he  paused  but  I  held  my  peace,  and  he 
continued,  "  Here 's  you  now,  you  that  was  so  mighty  and 


56        Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

fierce — aje,  a  very  hell-fire  roarer  —  here's  that  same 
you  SL-hanging  here  a  very  helpless,  pitiful  fool,  shipmate, 
and  thirsty,  'twould  seem  —  " 

Here  I  groaned  again. 

"  And  one  not  oversweet ! "  said  he,  stopping  his  nose. 

Hereupon  I  cursed  him,  though  faintly,  and  he  comes  a 
step  nearer. 

"  'T  is  said  my  Lady  Brandon  and  her  gallant  Sir 
Rupert  Bering — 'him  you  overthrew,  shipmate,  do  mean 
to  come  and  take  a  look  at  you  anon,  though  'tis  shame 
you  should  be  made  a  raree  show  —  bum  me ! " 

Hereupon,  I  fell  into  a  sudden  raging  fury,  striving  so 
desperately  against  my  bonds  that  the  devilish  engine 
wherein  I  stood  shook  and  rattled  again;  but  I  strove  to 
no  purpose  and  so  presently  hung  there  spent  and  bruised 
and  breathless  whiles  Penfeather  spun  the  key  on  his 
finger  and  sighed. 

"  Shipmate,"  said  he,  "  wherefore  irk  yourself  wi'  bonds  ? 
Say  but  the  word  and  I  '11  deliver  ye,  bring  ye  to  safe 
harbourage  and  cherish  ye  with  much  good  ale.  Be  per- 
suaded, now." 

"  Why,  then,"  groaned  I,  "  give  me  but  until  to-morrow 
to  do  what  I  will  —  and  I  'm  yours  — " 

"  Done ! "  said  he,  and  forthwith  set  key  to  padlock ; 
but  scarce  had  he  freed  the  head-board  than  he  falls 
a-cursing  'neath  his  breath.  "  Easy,  comrade,  easy ! " 
quoth  he  softly.  "Bide  still  awhile  —  hither  cometh  yon 
beefy  fool  back  again  —  so  will  I  make  show  of  miscalling 
ye  till  he  be  gone."  The  which  he  did  forthwith,  giving  me 
"  scurvy  rogue "  and  the  like.  Now,  lifting  my  head, 
whom  should  I  behold  but  that  same  tall  fellow  had  been 
my  chief  tormentor  and  who  now  hasted  over  the  green 
towards  us. 

"  It  be  nowt  but  Farmer  Darrell's  rick  ablaze,"  said  he 
to  Penfeather,  "  so  let  'un  bum,  says  I ;  Farmer  Darrell 
be  no  friend  o'  mine.  So  I  be  come  to  sport  wi'  yon  big 
rogue  awhile."  Herewith  he  stooped  for  some  missile  to 
cast  at  me;  but  now  I  straightened  my  b^c]?,  the  head- 


of  My  shameful  Sufferings       57 

board  gave  and,  ere  the  fellow  was  aware,  I  was  creeping 
swiftly  upon  him ;  taken  thus  by  surprise  small  chance  had 
he  for,  leaping  on  him,  I  bore  him  over  on  his  back  and, 
kneeling  on  him,  buried  my  fingers  in  his  throat.  And  so 
I  choked  him  (right  joyfully)  till  Penfeather  gripped  my 
arm. 

"  Lord  love  me !  "  cried  he.     "  Will  ye  kill  the  fool  ?  " 

"  That  will  I !  " 

"And  hang  for  him.'"' 

*'  Nay  —  he  's  scarce  worth  It." 

"  Then,  devil  burn  ye  —  loose  his  windpipe  !  "  Sol 
loosed  the  fellow's  throat  and,  despite  his  feeble  kicks, 
began  to  drag  him  over  the  grass. 

"What  now,  comrade.'"'  said  Penfeather.  "Sink  me, 
what  now  ?  " 

"  Watch  and  see ! "  So  I  brought  the  fellow  to  the  pil- 
lory wherein  I  set  him  and,  plucking  the  key  from  Pen- 
feather,  locked  him  there  in  my  stead ;  which  done  I  kicked 
him  once  or  twice  and,  having  found  the  cat's  carcass, 
made  shift  to  hang  the  stinking  thing  about  his  neck; 
then,  tossing  the  key  into  the  pond,  I  took  to  my  heels 
and  left  the  fellow  groaning  mighty  dismal. 

Now  scarce  was  I  clear  of  the  village  than  I  was  again 
seized  of  a  deadly  sickness  and  vertigo,  so  that  I  stumbled 
and  was  like  to  fall  but  that  Penfeather  propped  me  with 
his  shoulder.  In  this  fashion  I  made  shift  to  drag  myself 
along,  nor  would  he  suffer  me  stay  or  respite  (maugre  my 
weakness)  until,  following  the  brook,  he  had  brought  me 
into  the  green  solitude  of  the  woods. 

Here  then  I  sank  down,  sucking  up  the  cool,  sweet  water 
'twixt  parched  lips,  drinking  until  Penfeather  stayed  me 
lest  I  should  do  myself  hurt  thereby.  Thereafter,  my 
strength  reviving,  I  bathed  my  divers  wounds  (the  which, 
though  painful,  were  of  small  account),  and  fell  to  cleans- 
ing my  spattered  garments  as  well  as  I  might. 

"  So  we  're  to  be  comrades,  after  all ! "  said  Penfeather, 
watching  me  where  he  sat  hard  by. 

"  Aye —  to-morrow ! " 


58        Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

"And  how  goeth  vengeance,  shipmate?"  At  this  I 
turned  on  him  with  clenched  fist.  "  Nay,  easy  does  it," 
said  he,  never  budging,  "  for  if  't  was  the  folly  of  vengeance 
brought  ye  in  the  peccadiLle,  'twas  your  comrade  Adam 
Penfeather  got  ye  out  again  —  so  easy  all !  " 

"'Twas  you  fired  the  rick,  then?" 

"None  other!" 

"  'T  is  a  hanging  matter,  I  've  heard !  " 

"Why  a  man  must  needs  run  some  small  risk  for  his 
comrade,  d'ye  see  —  " 

"  Then,  Adam  Penfeather,  I  'm  your  debtor." 

"  Nay,  there  be  no  debts  'twixt  comrades  o'  the  Brother- 
hood ;  't  is  give  and  take,  share  and  share ! "  And  speak- 
ing, he  drew  forth  a  purse  and,  emptying  store  of  money 
on  the  grass  betwixt  us,  divided  it  equally  and  pushed  a 
pile  of  silver  and  copper  towards  me. 

"  And  what 's  this  ?  "  I  demanded. 

*'  Share  and  share,  comrade !  " 

*'  But  I  'm  no  comrade  o'  yours  till  after  to-night." 

"  Aha !  "  said  he,  pinching  his  long  chin.  "  Is 't  more 
vengeance  then?" 

"  Keep  your  money  till  it  be  earned ! "  I  muttered. 

"Sink  me  —  and  there's  pride  for  ye!  Pride  wliich  is 
a  vain  thing  and  vengeance  which  is  a  vainer.  Lord  love 
me,  shipmate,  't  is  plain  to  see  you  're  o'  the  quality,  'spite 
your  rags  —  blue  blood,  high  breeding,  noblesse  oblige  and 
all  the  rest  on't." 

"  Stint  your  gab!"  said  I,  scowling. 

"  T  is  writ  large  all  over  ye,"  he  went  on  placidly 
enough.  "  As  for  me,  I  'm  but  a  plain  man  wi'  no  time  for 
vengeance  and  no  whit  o'  pride  about  me  anywliere.  What 
I  says  to  you  is,  get  to  wind'ard  o'  vengeance  —  nay,  heave 
it  overboard,  shipmate — and  you'll  ride  the  easier,  aye 
and  sweeter,  and  seek  something  more  useful  —  gold  for 
instance ;  't  is  a  handy  tlung,  I  've  heard  say  —  so  ha'  done 
wi'  vengeance ! " 

"  No !  "  said  I,  frowning.  "  Not  —  nay,  not  for  all 
Bartlemy's  treasure ! " 


Of  My  shameful  Sufferings       59 

"Aha!"  quoth  he  softly.  "So  you've  heard  tell  of  it 
then,  along  the  Spanish  Main  ?  " 

"  I  heard  tell  of  it  last  night  in  a  cave  from  a  sailor- 
man.'* 

"  How?  "  said  he,  starting,  and  with  keen  eyes  glancing 
hither  and  thither.     "A  sailorman — ^  hereabouts  ?  " 

"  Damme !  "  said  I.  "  The  country  seems  thick  o'  sailor- 
men." 

"Ha!     D'ye  say  so?     And  what  like  was  this  one?" 

"  A  comely  rogue  that  sang  strange  song." 

"  Ah !  "  said  Penfeather,  his  eyes  narrowing.  "  A  song, 
says  you  —  and  strange' — how,  strange?" 

"  'T  was  all  of  dead  men  and  murder  I  '* 

"D'ye  mind  any  line  on't,  shipmate?" 

"  Aye,  the  words  of  it  went  somewhat  like  this : 

"  Some  on  a  knife  did  part  wi'  life 
And  some  a  bullet  took  O ! 
But  —  " 

Now  here,  as  I  stopped  at  a  loss,  my  companion  took 
up  the  rhyme  almost  unconsciously  and  below  his  breath. 

"  But  three  times  three  died  plaguily 
A-wriggling  on  a  hook  O !  " 

"  Comrade !  "  said  he  in  the  same  low  voice.  "  Did  ye  see 
ever  among  these  mariners  a  one-handed  man,  a  tall  man 
Avi'  a  hook  in  place  of  his  left  hand  —  a  very  bright,  sharp 
hook?"  And  now  as  Penfeather  questioned  me,  he  seized 
my  wrist,  and  I  was  amazed  at  the  iron  grip  of  him. 

"  No !  "  I  answered. 

"  Nay,"  said  he,  loosing  his  hold.  "  How  should  you  — 
he  's  dead,  along  o'  so  many  on  'em !  He 's  done  for  — 
him  and  his  hook,  devil  bum  him !  " 

"  A  hook  both  long  and  stout  and  strong 
They  died  by  gash  o'  hook  O ! " 

"  Ah ! "  I  cried.     "  So  that  was  the  kind  of  hook !  " 
"  Aye !  "  nodded  Penfeather.     "  That  was  the  kind.     A 


6o       Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

bullet's  bad,  a  knife's  worse,  but  a  steel  hook,  shipmate, 
very  sharp,  d'  ye  see^  is  a  death  no  man  should  die.  Ship- 
mate, I  've  seen  divers  men  dead  by  that  same  hook  —  torn 
and  ripped,  d'  ye  see —  like  a  dog's  fangs  !  I  'd  seen  many 
die  ere  then,  but  that  way  —  't  was  an  ill  sight  for  queasy 
stomachs ! " 

"  And  he  —  this  man  with  the  hook  is  dead,  you  say?  " 

"  And  burning  in  heU-fire ! " 

"  Are  you  sure?  " 

"  I  killed  him,  shipmate ! " 

"You!" 

*'  I,  shipmate.  We  fought  on  a  shelf  o'  rock  high  above 
the  sea,  my  knife  agin  his  knife  and  hook  —  'twas  that 
same  hook  gave  me  this  scar  athwart  my  jaw  —  but  as  he 
struck,  I  struck  and  saw  him  go  spinning  over  and  over, 
down  and  down,  and  splash  into  the  sea.  And  for  three 
days  I  watched  that  bit  o'  shore,  living  on  shellfish  and 
watching  for  him,  to  make  sure  I  had  finished  him  at  last." 

"And  these  other  rogues?  "  asked  I. 

"What  like  were  they,  shipmate?"  Hereupon  I  de- 
scribed (as  fully  as  I  might)  the  three  sailormen  I  had 
fought  with  in  the  hedge  tavern  (albeit  I  made  no  men- 
tion of  the  maid)  while  Penfeather  listened,  nodding  now 
and  then  and  pinching  at  his  long  chin.  "  And  this  other 
fellow,"  said  he,  when  I  had  done,  "  this  fellow  that  sang  — 
d'  ye  know  if  his  name  chanced  to  be  Mings  —  Abnegation 
Mings,  comrade?" 

"  The  very  same ! " 

"  Strange !  "  quoth  Penfeather  and  thereafter  sat  star- 
ing gloomily  down  into  the  rippling  waters  of  the  brook 
for  a  while.     "  I  wonder?  "  said  he  at  last.     "  I  wonder?  " 

"What  think  ye  shall  bring  these  fellows  so  far  from 
the  coast;  what  should  they  be  after?" 

"Me,  shipmate!" 

*'  You ! "  said  I  for  the  second  time,  marvelling  at  the 
strange  quiet  of  him.  "  And  what  would  they  have  of  you?  " 

"  My  life,  shipmate,  and  one  other  thing.  What  that 
thing  is  I  will  tell  you  when  we  have  drunk  the  blood- 


Of  My  Shameful  Sufferings       6i 

brotherhood!  But  now  it  behoveth  me  to  be  a-doing,  so 
I  '11  away.  But  when  you  shall  seek  me,  as  seek  me  ye 
will,  shipmate,  shalt  hear  of  me  at  the  Peck-o'-Malt  tavern, 
which  is  a  small,  quiet  place  'twixt  here  and  Bedgebury 
Cross.  Come  there  at  any  hour,  day  or  night,  and  say 
'  The  Faithful  Friend,'  and  you  shall  find  safe  harbourage. 
Remember,  comrade,  the  word  is  '  The  Faithful  Friend,' 
and  if  so  be  ye  can  choose  your  time  —  night  is  better." 
So  saying,  he  arose. 

"  Wait ! "  said  I,  pointing  to  the  coins  yet  lying  on  the 
grass.    "  Take  your  money !  " 

"  'T  is  none  o'  mine,"  answered  he,  shaking  his  head. 
"  Keep  it  or  throw  it  away  —  't  is  all  one  to  me ! "  Then 
he  went  away  through  the  wood  and,  as  he  went,  I  thought 
he  walked  with  a  new  and  added  caution. 


CHAPTER   VII 

How  I  Fell  in  with  One  God-be-here,  a  Peddler 

Evening  was  at  hand  as  I  reached  a  little  alehouse  well 
away  from  the  road  and  pleasantly  secluded  by  trees: 
thither  came  I,  fondling  Penfeather's  money  in  my  pocket, 
for  I  was  again  mightily  sharp  set.  But  all  at  once  I 
stopped,  for,  passing  the  open  .lattice,  I  heard  loud 
laughter  and  a  merry  voice. 

"And  there,  believe  me,  gossips"  (quoth  this  voice), 
"as  sure  as  this  be  beef  —  aye,  and  good  beef  and  cooked 
to  a  turn,  mistress- — there's  this  great,  lob-lolly,  hector- 
ing Tom  Button  fast  i'  the  pillory ;  and  by  this  good  ale, 
a  woeful  sight,  his  eyes  blacked,  his  nose  a-bleeding,  his 
jerkin  torn  and  a  dead  cat  about  liis  neck,  oho  —  aha! 
Tom  Button  —  big  Tom,  fighting  Tom,  so  loud  o'  tongue 
and  ready  o'  fist  —  Tom  as  have  cowed  so  many  —  there 
is  he,  fast  by  the  neck  and  a-groaning,  see  ye,  gossips,  loud 
enough  for  six ;  wish  I  may  die  else !  And  the  best  o'  the 
joke  is  —  the  key  be  gone,  as  I  'm  a  sinner !  So  they  needs 
must  break  the  lock  to  get  him  out.  Big  Tom,  as  have 
thrashed  every  man  for  miles." 

But  here  merry  voice  and  laughter  ceased,  and  a  buxom 
woman  thrust  smiling  face  from  the  window  and  face 
(like  her  voice)  was  kindly  when  she  addressed  me: 

"What  would  ye,  young  master.?" 

"A  little  food,  mistress,"  answered  I,  touching  my 
weather-worn  hat  and  pulling  it  lower  over  my  bruised 
and  swollen  features. 

"  Why,  come  in,  master,  come  in ;  there  be  none  here  but 
my  Roger  and  Godby  the  peddler,  as  knoweth  every  one." 

So  I  entered  forthwith  a  small,  snug  chamber,  and  seat- 
ing myself  in  the  darkest  comer,  acknowledged  the  saluta- 


One  God-be-Here,  a  Peddler     63 

tions  of  the  two  men  while  the  good-looking  woman, 
bustling  to  and  fro,  soon  set  before  me  a  fair  joint  of  roast 
beef  with  bread  and  ale  upon  which  I  incontinent  fell  to. 

The  two  men  sat  cheek  by  jowl  at  the  farther  end  of  the 
table,  one  a  red- faced,  lusty  fellow;  the  other,  a  small, 
bony  man  who  laughed  and  ate  and  ate  and  laughed  and 
yet  contrived  to  talk  all  the  wliile,  that  it  was  a  wonder  to 
behold. 

**  Was  you  over  to  Lamberhurst  way,  master  ?  "  said  he 
to  me,  all  at  once. 

"  Aye !  "  I  nodded,  busy  with  the  beef. 

"  Why,  then,  happen  ye  saw  summat  o'  the  sport  they 
had  wi'  the  big  gipsy  i'  the  pillory  —  him  as  'saulted  my 
Lady  Brandon  and  nigh  did  for  her  ladyship's  coz.'"' 

"  Aye,"  said  I  again,  bending  over  my  platter. 

"  'T  is  ill  sport  to  bait  a  poor  soul  as  be  helpless,  I  think 
—  nay  I  know,  for  I  've  stood  there  myself  ere  now, 
though  I  won't  say  as  I  didn't  clod  this  fellow  once  or 
twice  to-day  myself  —  I  were  a  rare  dodder  in  my  time, 
aha!     Did  you  clod  this  big  rogue,  master .f'" 

"  No ! " 

**  And  wherefore  not?  " 

"  Because,"  said  I,  cutting  myself  more  beef.  "  I  hap- 
pened to  be  that  same  rogue."  Here  Roger  the  landlord 
stared,  his  buxom  wife  shrank  away  and  even  the  talkative 
peddler  grew  silent  awhile,  viewing  me  with  his  shrewd, 
merry  eyes. 

"  Aha  !  "  said  he  at  last.     "  'T  was,  you,  was  it.?  " 

"  It  was !  " 

*'  And  why  must  ye  'sault  a  noble  lady  ?  " 

"  I  never  did !  " 

"  Gregory  swears  to  it." 

"  Gregory  's  a  liar !  " 

"  Which  is  true  enough  —  so  he  be !  "  nodded  the  land- 
lord. 

"  And  a  cruel  hard  man  !  "  added  his  wife.  "  But  Lord, 
young  master,  they  do  ha'  used  ye  ill  —  your  poor  face, 
all  bruised  and  swole  it  be ! " 


64       Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

"  Which  it  be ! "  nodded  Roger.  "  Likewise  cut !  Which 
be  ill  for  'ee,  though — like  Godby  here  —  I  won't  say  but 
what  I  mought  n't  ha'  took  a  heave  at  ye,  had  I  been 
there,  it  being  nat'ral-like  to  heave  things  at  such  times, 
d'ye  see." 

"  Very  natural ! "  said  I. 

""And  then  why,"  questioned  the  little  peddler,  "why 
break  open  the  wicket  gate.'' " 

".To  get  in!" 

"  Aha !  "  quoth  Bodby  the  peddler,  winking  roguish  eye. 
"  On  the  prigging  lay  perchance,  cull,  or  peradventure  the 
millken  ?     Speak  plain,  pal,  all 's  bowmon ! " 

"  I  'm  no  flash  cull,"  said  I,  "  neither  buzz,  file,  millken 
nor  scamperer." 

"  Mum,  pal,  mum !  I  'm  no  more  flash  than  you  be, 
though  I  've  no  love  for  the  harmon-becks,  as  Roger  here 
will  tell  'ee.  A  peddler  be  I  and  well  liked  —  wish  I  may 
swing  else  1  Aye,  well  beloved  is  kind  Godby,  specially  by 
wenches  and  childer  —  aha,  many's  the  yard  o'  riband 
and  lace,  the  garters,  pins,  ballads,  gingerbread  men,  pigs 
and  elephants  very  fair  gilt  as  they  've  had  o'  kind  Godby, 
and  all  for  love !  And  yet,  plague  and  perish  it  —  here 's 
me  warned  off  my  pitch,  here  's  me  wi'  the  damned  catch- 
polls on  my  heels,  and  all  along  o'  this  same  Gregory 
Bragg —  rot  him ! " 

"  As  to  all  that,  I  know  not,  but  this  I  '11  swear  to ; 
you  are  a  man,  Godby  the  peddler,  and  one  with  a  bold 
and  kindly  heart  inside  you." 

"How  so?"  he  questioned,  his  bright  eyes  all  of  a 
twinkle.     "  How  so,  my  bully  boy  ?  " 

"  That  pannikin  of  water." 

"  Which  you  did  n't  get,  my  cock's-body  lad ! " 

"Which  you  were  man  enough  to  bring  me." 

"  Which  Tom  Button  did  ye  out  of ! " 

"  Which  you  knocked  liim  down  for ! " 

"  WHiich  is  Gospel-true,  Roger  and  Cicely.  'T  was  a 
neat  throw;  Tom  bumped  heavy  —  aye,  uncommon  flat 
were  Tom,  let  me  eat  worms  else ! " 


One  God-Be-Here,  a  Peddler    65 

"  For  all  of  the  which,"  said  I,  cutting  more  beef,  "  I 
ask  you  now  to  drink  a  stoup  of  ale  with  me." 

"  Wi'  all  my  heart !  "  cried  the  peddler. 

"  Then,"  said  I,  laying  my  money  on  the  table,  **  let  lis 
all  drink  in  fellowship,  for  ale,  like  fellowship,  is  a  goodly 
thing,  and  good  things  be  rare  in  this  world ! " 

"And  that's  true,  o'  conscience!"  smiled  the  buxom 
Cicely. 

"  And  ye  '11  find  no  better  brew  than  our  own ! "  quoth 
Roger. 

"  And  that  I  '11  swear  to ! "  laughed  the  peddler.  "  Cram 
me  wi'  spiders  else ! " 

So  the  good  ale  was  brought  and  Godby,  lifting  his 
tankard,  smiled  and  nodded  over  the  creamy  foam. 

"  Here 's  a  griping  colic  to  every  catchpoll,  harmon- 
beck  and  the  like  vermin  'twixt  this  and  London  Town ! " 
He  lifted  the  ale  to  his  lips,  but  suddenly  he  set  it  down 
untasted  and  rose.  "  Friends,  I  'm  took !  "  quoth  he. 
"  See  yonder ! "  As  he  spake  the  narrow  doorway  was 
darkened  and  two  rough  fellows  entered,  and  each  bore  a 
formidable  bludgeon. 

"Aye,"  said  one,  a  big,  surly-voiced  fellow,  "here  be 
us,  peddler,  and  there  be  you ;  so  best  come  easy  —  an'  no 
tricks,  mind ! " 

"  Then  easy  does  it,  lads ! "  answered  Godby,  seemingly 
no  whit  abashed.  "  No  lamb  could  come  milder  than 
Godby  —  aye  lambs,  doves  and  babes  is  roaring  lions 
compared  wi'  Godby  —  so  easy  does  it.  What  is 't  this 
time,  codgers  ?  " 

"Fower  hours  i'  the  pillory,  three  i'  the  stocks,  and  a 
month  in  Maidstone  j  ail,  and  that 's  what ! " 

"  And  enough  too ! "  growled  Roger  the  landlord,  clench- 
ing hairy  fist  and  glancing  furtively  towards  a  rusty 
sword  suspended  above  the  hearth. 

"  Let  be,  Roger ;  I  'm  a  lamb ! "  sighed  the  peddler. 
**And  I  wouldn't  ha'  you  in  trouble  by  me;  besides,  this 
room  o'  youm,  though  snug,  ain't  fit  for  struggling  nor 
striving !    So,  friends  —  good-by  !  "    Then  he  turned  away; 


66       Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

between  his  two  captors,  but  as  he  did  so,  his  bright  eyes 
for  one  moment  met  mine  and  in  his  look  I  read  appeal. 

Now  scarce  were  they  gone  when  I  got  me  to  my  feet, 
whereat  the  landlord,  Roger,  did  the  like. 

"  What 's  to  do .''  "  he  questioned,  glancing  yearningly 
from  me  to  the  rusty  sword. 

**Why  now,"  said  I,  counting  out  my  reckoning,  "bide 
you  here  —  for  your  good  wife's  sake." 

"  Aye,  do  now,  Roger ! "  she  pleaded.  "  'T  would  be 
ruination  to  us !  " 

"  Moreover,"  continued  I,  reaching  for  my  cudgel, 
"  they  are  but  two,  so  bide  you  here."  Then  I  stepped 
forth  of  the  tavern  and  very  soon  came  up  with  the  two 
fellows,  their  prisoner  walking  betwixt  them  meekly 
enough.     But,  as  I  approached,  they  halted  all  three. 

"And  what  be  you  after.?"  demanded  the  surly  fellow. 

"You!" 

"And  what  d*ye  want  of  us  —  hey?" 

"  Your  prisoner ! " 

"Ha!     And  what  for  him.?" 

"  I  've  a  mind  to  him !  " 

"Oh!     Ye  have,  eh.?" 

**  I  have.     Do  I  get  him .?  " 

*'  Be  curst  for  a  black,  ugly  rogue." 

"  That 's  no  answer ! " 

*'  'T  is  all  you  'U  get  o'  we,  save  'ard  knocks ! "  said  the 
man,  spitting  in  his  hand  and  taking  firm  grip  of  his 
bludgeon. 

"  Why,  then,  I  must  take  him ! "  said  I. 

"Try  and  be  damned!"  roared  the  fellow.  "Ha  — 
look  alive,  Jem ! "  And  whirling  up  his  staff,  he  made  at 
me  amain ;  but  I  sprang  aside  and,  as  hi»  rush  carried  him 
past,  my  answering  stroke  caught  him  fairly  'twixt  wrist 
and  elbow,  and  his  cudgel  spun  harmlessly  into  the  hedge; 
breathing  curses,  he  sought  to  close  with  me  but  I,  keep- 
ing my  distance,  smote  him  (very  blithely)  how  and  where 
I  would  until  he  (his  arm  useless)  misliking  my  bludgeon- 
play  and  reading  no  mercy  in  my  look,  very  wisely  betook 


One  God-Be-Here,  a  Peddler     67 

him  to  his  heels.  Hereupon  I  turned  to  find  the  little 
peddler  sitting-  astride  his  man's  neck  and  his  fist  against 
the  fellow's  nose. 

"  Smell  it,  Job !  "  he  was  saying.  "  Smell  it,  lad ;  't  is 
the  fist  of  a  man  as  would  be  a-groping  for  your  liver  if  it 
weren't  for  the  respect  I  do  bear  your  old  mother — skin 
me  else!  So  thank  your  old  mother,  lad,  first  as  you've 
got  a  liver  and  second  for  a-saving  o'  that  same  liver. 
And  now,  get  up.  Job  —  begone  Job,  arter  your  pal  and' 
tell  folk  as  kind  Godby,  though  sore  tempted,  never  so 
much  as  set  finger  on  your  liver  and  all  along  o'  your  good 
old  mother  —  away  wi'  ye ! "  So  the  fellow  got  him  to  his 
legs  (mighty  rueful)  and  sped  away  after  his  comrade. 

"Pal,"  said  the  little  peddler,  reaching  out  and  grasp- 
ing my  hand,  "  here 's  full  quittance  for  that  pannikin  o' 
water  as  you  never  got!     And  now  —  what's  the  word?" 

"  Now,"  said  I,  "  let  us  go  back  and  drink  the  good 
ale ! " 

"  Pal,"  quoth  the  peddler,  with  a  flash  of  white  teeth, 
"  wi'  all  my  heart !  " 

Thus  we  presently  returned  to  the  little  tavern  and 
found  there  Roger  the  landlord,  the  rusty  sword  in  one 
brawny  fist,  his  wife  holding  fast  to  the  other.  At  sight 
of  us  he  dropped  the  weapon  and  roared  joyously,  and 
Cicely,  running  to  us,  clasped  our  hands  in  hearty  wel- 
come. So  we  sat  down  all  four,  and  while  we  quaffed  the 
ale,  Godby  described  our  late  encounter  with  great  ex- 
actness. 

"  Pal,"  said  he  thereafter,  reaching  across  the  table  to 
grip  my  hand  again,  "  what  might  your  name  be  ?  " 

"  Martin." 

*'Why,  then,  Martin,  have  ye  any  friends  or  kin.'"' 

"  None ! " 

"No  more  have  I,  and  look  now,  this  Kent  country  is 
no  fit  place  for  you  or  me  arter  to-day !  So  what  I  says 
is,  lets  you  and  me  pad  it,  pal  —  the  road,  lad  —  the  good 
highroad,  aha !    How  say  ye,  Martin  ?  " 

"  No  I " 


68        Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

"Why  no,  pal?" 

"  Because,  after  to-night,  if  I  chance  to  be  neither  dead 
nor  in  prison,  I  'm  for  shipboard." 

«'Tis  an  iU  life,  pal!" 

"Why,  life  is  an  ill  thing! "  said  I. 

*'  Nay,  look  'ee,  Martin,  hfe  may  be  worth  whiles  now 
and  then  —  aye,  lad,  there  be  times,  good  times." 

"What  times?" 

"Well,  Martin,  to  lie  snug  'neath  hedge  o'  star  time, 
when  your  fire 's  low  an'  the  stars  peep  down  through 
leaves  at  a  man ;  wink,  they  go,  and  wink,  wink,  tUl,  watch- 
ing 'em,  a  man  forgets  his  troubles  awhile  and  knows  some- 
thing o'  content.  Aha,  many  's  the  time  o'  star  time  they 
have  winked  me  and  my  troubles  asleep.  Then  there's 
wakings  o'  bird  time,  wi'  the  sun  up,  dew  a-sparkle  and 
life  calling  within  ye  and  without,  and  the  birds  —  oh, 
the  birds,  Martin  —  a-filling  the  world  wi'  brave  songs  o' 
hope  newborn  like  the  day !  Ah,  many 's  the  mom  the 
birds  ha'  waked  me  and  I  as  merry  as  any  grig  —  Lord 
love  their  beaks  and  wings !  There 's  hay-time  o'  the 
evening,  full  o'  soft,  sweet  smells  —  aye,  sweet  as  lad's  first 
kiss ;  there 's  wheat-time  at  noon  wi'  the  ears  a-rustle  and 
the  whitt-whitt  o'  scythe  and  whetstone ;  there 's  night, 
Martin,  and  the  long,  black  road  dipping  and  a-winding 
but  wi'  the  beam  o'  light  beyond,  lad  —  the  good  light  as 
tells  o'  journey  done,  of  companionship  and  welcomes  and 
belike  —  eyes  o'  love,  with- — " 

"  Lusty  ale ! "  quoth  Roger,  setting  three  new-filled 
pipkins  before  us.     "  And  none  better  nor  oum." 

"  That  I  do  swear  to,  Roger ! "  laughed  the  peddler. 
"  Choke  me  else !  But  now,  as  to  the  sea,  Martin  pal  — 
'tis  a  dog's  life!" 

*'You  know  the  sea,  then?" 

"Like  my  hand,  Martin,  and  all  along  o'  my  father's 
godliness.  A  fine,  big  man  he  was  and  devout  as  he  was 
lusty.  Having  begot  me  his  next  duty  was  to  name  me, 
and  oh,  pal,  name  me  he  did !  A  name  as  no  raskell  lad 
might  live  up  to,  a  name  as  brought  me  into  such  troublous 


One  God-Be-Here,  a  Peddler    69 

faction  ashore  that  he  packed  me  off  to  sea.  And  if  you 
ax  me  what  name  'twas,  I'll  answer  ye  bold  and  true  — 
'  God-be-here  Jenkins,  at  your  service,  though  Godby  for 
short  and  'twixt  friends.' " 

Now  the  more  I  saw  of  this  little  peddler  the  better  I 
liked  him,  so  that  the  hour  was  late  when,  having  supped 
excellently  well,  I  rose  to  take  my  leave. 

"  If  you  must  be  away,  young  master,"  said  the  buxom 
Cicely,  "  don't  'ee  forget  there  be  ever  a  welcome  for  'ee  at 
the  Hoppole  —  eh,  Roger.'"' 

"  There  is  so !  "  nodded  the  landlord.  "  Likewise  a 
pipkin  of  ale  and  a  bite  and  all  gratus  to  a  pal ! " 

"  And  look  'ee,  Martin,  my  cove,"  quoth  the  peddler, 
grasping  my  hand,  "  there  be  ever  and  always  the  good 
highroad  leading  on  and  away  to  better  things ;  so  happen 
ye  should  change  your  mind,  seek  me  here  'twixt  this  and 
dawn ;  if  to-morrow,  ye  shall  hear  o'  Godby  at  the  Fox  at 
Spelmonden.     So  luck  go  wi'  ye,  my  bien  cull." 

"  And  you,"  says  I,  "  should  you  be  minded  to  sail  with 
me,  go  to  the  Peck-o'-Malt  at  Bedgebury  Cross ;  the  word 
is  '  The  Faithful  Friend '  and  ask  for  Adam  Penfeather." 

So  I  presently  stepped  forth  of  the  little  tavern  where 
I  had  found  such  kindliness  and,  turning  from  the  narrow 
lane,  struck  off  across  the  fields. 

It  was  a  sweet,  warm  night,  the  moon  not  up  as  yet; 
thus  as  I  went  I  lifted  my  gaze  to  the  heavens  where  stars 
made  a  glory.  And  beholding  these  wondrous  fires  I  needs 
must  recall  the  little  peddler's  saying  and  ponder  his 
"good  times,"  —  his  "times  of  stars  and  birds,  of  noon 
and  eventide,  of  welcomes  sweet  and  eyes  of  love." 

And  now  I  was  of  a  sudden  filled  with  a  great  yearning 
and  passionate  desire  that  I  too  might  know  such  times. 
But,  as  I  climbed  a  stile,  my  hand  by  chance  came  upon 
the  knife  at  my  girdle  and  sitting  on  the  stile  I  drew  it 
forth  and  fell  to  handling  its  broad  blade  and,  doing  so, 
knew  in  my  heart  that  such  times  were  not  for  me,  nor  ever 
could  be.  And  sitting  there,  knife  in  hand,  desire  and 
yearning  were  lost  and  'whelmed  in  fierce  and  black  despair. 


/ 

CHAPTER   VIII 

How  I  Had  Word  With  the  Lady  Joan  Brandon 
FOR  THE  Third  Time 

The  moon  was  well  up  when,  striking  out  from  the  gloom 
of  the  woods,  I  reached  a  wall  very  high  and  strong, 
whereon  moss  and  lichens  grew;  skirting  this,  I  presently 
espied  that  I  sought,  —  a  place  where  the  coping  was 
gone  with  sundry  of  the  bricks,  making  here  a  gap  very 
apt  to  escalade;  and  here,  years  agone,  I  had  been  wont 
to  climb  this  wall  to  the  furtherance  of  some  boyish  prank 
on  many  a  night  such  as  this.  Awhile  stood  I  staring  up 
at  this  gap,  then,  seizing  hold  of  mossy  brickwork,  I  drew 
myself  up  and  dropped  into  a  walled  garden.  Here  were 
beds  of  herbs  well  tended  and  orderly  and,  as  I  went,  I 
breathed  an  air  sweet  with  the  smell  of  thyme  and  lavender 
and  a  thousand  other  scents,  —  an  air  fraught  with  mem- 
ories of  sunny  days  and  joyous  youth,  insomuch  that  I 
clenched  my  hands  and  hasted  from  the  place.  Past 
sombre  trees,  mighty  of  girth  and  branch,  I  hurried ;  past 
still  pools,  full  of  a  moony  radiance,  where  lilies  floated; 
past  marble  fauns  and  dryads  that  peeped  ghost-like 
from  leafy  solitudes;  past  sunc^al  and  carven  bench,  by 
clipped  yew  hedges  and  winding  walks  until,  screened  in 
shadow,  I  paused  to  look  upon  a  great  and  goodly  house ; 
and  as  I  stood  there  viewing  it  over  from  terrace  walk 
to  gabled  roof,  I  heard  a  distant  clock  chime  ten. 

The  great  house  lay  very  silent  and  dark;  not  a  light 
showed  save  in  one  lower  chamber.  So  I  waited  patiently, 
my  gaze  on  this  light  while,  ever  and  anon,  the  leaves 
about  me  stirred  in  the  soft  night  wind  with  a  sound  like 
one  that  sighed  mournfully. 


Word  With  the  Lady  Joan  Brandon   7 1 

Thus  stayed  I  some  while ;  howbeit,  the  light  yet  aglow 
and  my  patience  waning,  I  stole  forward,  keeping  ever 
in  the  shadows,  and,  ascending  the  terrace,  came  where 
grew  ivy,  very  thick  and  gnarled,  overspreading  this  wing 
of  the  house.  Groping  amid  the  leaves  I  found  that  I 
sought,  a  stout  staple  deep-driven  between  the  bricks  with 
above  this  another  and  yet  others  again,  the  which  formed 
a  sort  of  ladder  whereby,  as  a  boy,  I  had  been  wont  to 
come  and  go  by  night  or  day  as  I  listed. 

Forthwith  I  began  to  climb  by  means  of  these  staples 
and  the  ivy,  until  at  last  my  fingers  grasped  the  stone  sill 
of  a  window ;  and  now,  the  lattice  being  open,  I  contrived 
(albeit  with  much  ado)  to  clamber  into  the  room.  It  was 
a  fair-sized  chamber,  and  the  moonlight,  falling  athwart 
the  floor,  lit  upon  a  great  carven  bed  brave  with  tapes- 
tried hangings.  Just  now  the  silken  curtains  were  up- 
drawn,  and  upon  the  bed  I  saw  a  bundle  of  garments  all 
ribands,  laces  and  the  like,  the  which,  of  themselves,  gave 
me  sudden  pause.  From  these  my  gaze  wandered  to 
where,  against  the  panelling,  hung  a  goodly  rapier  com- 
plete with  girdle  and  slings,  its  silver  hilt,  its  guards  and 
curling  quillons  bright  in  the  moonbeams.  So  came  I 
and,  reaching  it  down,  drew  it  from  the  scabbard  and  saw 
the  bl^de  very  bright  as  it  had  been  well  cared  for.  And 
graven  on  the  forte  of  the  blade  was  the  Conisby  blazon 
and  the  legend : 

ROUSE    ME    NOT 

Now  as  I  stood  watching  the  moonbeams  play  up  and 
down  the  long  blade,  I  heard  the  light,  quick  tread  of  feet 
ascending  the  stairs  without,  and  a  voice  (very  rich  and 
sweetly  melodious)  that  brake  out  a-singing,  and  the 
words  it  sang,  these : 

"  A  poor  soul  sat  sighing  by  a  green  willow  tree 
With  hand  on  his  bosom,  his  head  on  his  knee 
Sighing  willow  !     Willow,  willow  ! 
O  willow,  willow,  willow, 
And  O  the  green  willow  my  garland  shall  be." 


72        Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

Nearer  came  the  singing  while  I  stood,  sword  in  hand, 
waiting;  the  song  ended  suddenly,  and  a  sweet  voice 
called : 

"Oh,  Marjorie,  wake  me  betimes;  I  must  be  abroad 
with  the  sun  to-morrow  —  good  night,  sweet  wench ! " 

I  crouched  in  the  curtains  of  the  great  bed  as  the  latch 
clicked  and  the  room  filled  with  the  soft  glow  of  a  candle ; 
a  moment's  silence,  then: 

"  Oh,  Marj  orie,  I  '11  wear  the  green  taff ety  in  the  morn- 
ing.    Nay  indeed,  I  '11  be  my  own  tirewoman  to-night." 

The  light  was  borne  across  the  room ;  then,  coming 
softly  to  the  door,  I  closed  it  and,  setting  my  back  against 
it,  leaned  there.  At  the  small  sound  I  made  she  turned 
and,  beholding  me,  shrank  back,  and  I  saw  the  candle- 
stick shaking  in  her  hand  ere  she  set  it  down  upon  the 
carved  press  beside  her. 

"Who  is  it  —  who  is  it.?"  she  questioned  breathlessly, 
staring  at  my  bruised  and  swollen  features. 

"  A  rogue  you  had  dragged  lifeless  to  the  pillory ! " 

"You.'"'  she  breathed.  "You!  And  they  set  you  in 
the  pillory.?     'Twas  by  no  order  of  me." 

*"Tis  no  matter,  lady,  here  was  just  reward  for  a 
rogue,"   says  I.    "But  now  I  seek  Sir  Richard  —  "        / 

"Nay,  indeed  —  indeed  you  shall  not  find  him  here." 

*'  That  will  I  prove  for  myself ! "  said  I  and  laid  hand 
on  latch. 

"  Sir,"  replied  she  in  the  same  breathless  fashion,  "  why 
will  you  not  believe  me?  Seek  him  an  you  will,  but  I  tell 
you  Sir  Richard  sailed  into  the  Spanish  Main  two  years 
since  and  was  lost." 

"  Lost.?  "  said  I,  feeling  a  tremor  of  apprehension  shake 
me  as  I  met  her  truthful  eyes.  "Lost,  say  you  —  how 
lost.?" 

"  He  and  his  ship  were  taken  by  the  Spaniards  off  His- 
paniola." 

"  Taken.?  "  I  repeated,  like  one  sore  mazed.  "  Taken  — 
off  —  Hispaniola.?"  And  here,  bethinking  me  of  the  cruel 
mockery  of  it  all  (should  this  indeed  be  so)  black  anger 


Word  With  the  Lady  Joan  Brandon    73 

seized  me.  "  You  lie  to  me !  "  I  cried.  "  Ha,  by  God,  you 
lie!  An  there  be  aught  of  justice  in  heaven  then  Richard 
Brandon  must  be  here." 

"  Who  are  you  ?  "  she  questioned,  viewing  me  with  the 
same  wide-eyed  stare.  "Who  are  you  —  so  fierce,  so 
young,  yet  with  whitened  hair,  and  that  trembles  at  the 
truth  ?     Who  are  you  ?     Speak !  " 

"  You  have  lied  to  save  him  from  me ! "  I  cried.  "  You 
lie  —  ha,  confess ! "  And  I  strode  towards  her,  the  long 
blade  a-glitter  in  my  quivering  grasp. 

"Would  you  kill  me.'"'  asked  she,  all  unflinching  and 
with  eyes  that  never  wavered.  "  Would  you  murder  a 
helpless  maid  —  Martin  Conisby.P"  The  rapier  fell  to  the 
rug  at  my  feet  and  lay  there,  my  breath  caught,  and  thus 
we  stood  a  while,  staring  into  each  other's  eyes. 

"  Martin  Conisby  is  dead ! "   said  I  at  last. 

For  answer  she  pointed  to  the  wall  above  my  head  and, 
looking  thither,  I  saw  the  picture  of  a  young  cavalier, 
richly  habited,  who  smiled  down,  grey-eyed  and  gentle- 
lipped,  all  care-free  youth  and  gaiety;  and  beneath  this 
portrait  ran  the  words: 

MARTIN  CONISBY,  LORD  WENDOVER.    Aetat  21. 

"  Madam,"  quoth  I  at  last,  turning  my  back  on  the  pic- 
ture, "  yon  innocent  was  whipped  to  death  aboard  a  Span- 
ish galleass  years  since,  wherefore  I,  a  poor  rogue,  come 
seeking  his  destroyer." 

"  Sir,"  said  she,  clasping  her  hands  and  viewing  me 
with  troubled  eyes,  "oh,  sir  —  whom  mean  you.?" 

"One  who,  having  slain  the  father,  sold  the  son  into 
slavery,  to  the  hell  of  Spanish  dungeon  and  rowing- 
bench,  to  stripes  and  shame  and  torment  —  one  the  just 
God  hath  promised  to  my  vengeance  —  I  mean  Richard 
Brandon." 

"  Ah  —  mercy  of  God  —  my  father !  Ah,  no,  no  —  it 
cannot  be !    My  father?    Sure  here  is  some  black  mistake." 

"  Being  his  daughter  you  should  know  't  is  very  truth ! 
Being  a  Brandon  you  must  know  of  the  feud  hath  cursed 


74       Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

and  rent  our  families  time  out  of  mind,  the  bitter  faction 
and  bloodshed ! " 

**  Aye !  "  she  murmured.     "  This  I  do  know." 

"  Well,  madam,  five  years  agone,  or  thereabouts,  my 
father,  falsely  attainted  of  treason,  died  in  his  prison  and 
I,  drugged  and  trepanned  aboard  ship,  was  sold  into  the 
plantations,  whence  few  return  —  and  Richard  Brandon, 
enriched  by  our  loss  and  great  at  court,  dreamed  he  had 
made  an  end  o*  the  Conisbys  and  that  the  feud  was  ended 
once  and  for  all." 

"  My  lord,"  said  she,  proud  head  upflung,  "  I  deny  all 
this !  Such  suspicion,  so  base  and  unfounded,  shameth 
but  yourself.  You  have  dared  force  your  way  into  my 
house  at  dead  of  night  and  now  —  oh,  now  you  would 
traduce  my  absent  father,  charging  him  with  shameful 
crimes  —  and  this  to  me,  his  daughter !  Enough,  I  '11 
hear  no  more ;  begone  ere  I  summon  my  servants  and  have 
you  driven  forth!"  and,  seizing  the  bell  rope  that  hung 
against  the  panelling,  she  faced  me,  her  deep  bosom  heav- 
ing tempestuous,  white  hands  clenched  and  scorning  me 
with  her  eyes. 

"  Ring ! "  said  I,  and  seated  myself  in  a  chair  beside 
her  great  bed. 

"  Have  you  no  shame  ?  " 

" None,  madam;  'twas  all  whipped  out  o'  me  aboard  the 
Esmeralda  galleass.  Ring,  madam !  But  I  go  not  from 
this  place  till  I  learn,  once  and  for  all,  if  Sir  Richard  be 
here  or  no." 

Now  at  this  she  loosed  the  bell  rope  very  suddenly  and, 
covering  her  face  with  her  hands,  stood  thus  awhile. 

*'  God  pity  me !  "  said  she  at  last  in  weeping  voice.  "  I 
may  not  forget  how  you  saved  me  from  — "  Here  a 
tremor  seemed  to  shake  her :  then  she  spoke  again,  yet  now 
scarce  above  a  whisper.  "Your  face  hath  looked  upon 
me  night  and  morn  these  two  years  and  now  — -  oh,  Martin 
Conisby,  were  you  but  the  man  I  dreamed  you ! "  _ 

**  I  'm  a  rogue  new-broke  from  slavery ! "   replied  I. 

"  Aye,"  she  cried  suddenly,  lifting  her  head  and  viewing 


Word  With  the  Lady  Joan  Brandon   75 

me  with  new  and  bitter  scorn,  "  and  one  that  speaketh  lies 
of  an  absent  man !  " 

"  Lies  ! "  quoth  I,  choking  on  the  word.  "  Lies,  madam  ? 
Why,  then,  how  cometh  my  picture  here  —  my  coat  of 
arms  above  the  mantel  yonder  —  the  Conisby  'scutcheon 
on  your  gates  ?    What  do  you  at  Conisby  Shene  ?  " 

Now  in  her  look  I  saw  a  sudden  doubt,  a  growing  dread, 
her  breath  caught,  and  she  shrank  back  to  the  panelled 
wall  and  leaned  there,  and  ever  the  trouble  in  her  eyes 
grew.     "  Well  ?"  I  questioned.     "  Have  ye  no  answer?  " 

"  'T  was  said  —  I  have  heard  —  the  Conisby s  were  no 
more." 

"Even  so,  how  came  Sir  Richard  by  this,  our  house.'"' 

*'Nay  —  nay,  I  —  I  know  little  of  my  father's  busi- 
ness—  he  was  ever  a  silent  man  and  I  —  have  passed  my 
days  in  London  or  abroad —  But  you  —  ah,  tell  me  — 
why  seek  you  my  father.'"' 

"  That  is  betwixt  him  and  me !  " 

"Was  it  —  murder?  Was  it  vengeance,  my  lord?" 
Here,  as  I  made  no  answer,  she  crossed  over  to  me  and 
laid  one  slender  hand  on  my  shoulder;  whereat  I  would 
have  risen  but  her  touch  stayed  me.  "  Speak !  "  said  she 
in  a  whisper.  "Was  it  his  life  you  sought?"  Meeting 
the  look  in  her  deep,  soft  eyes,  I  was  silent  for  a  while, 
finding  no  word,  then  dumbly  I  nodded.  And  now  I  felt 
her  hand  trembling  on  my  shoulder  ere  it  was  withdrawn 
and,  looking  up,  I  saw  she  had  clasped  her  hands  and 
stood  with  head  bowed  like  one  in  prayer.  "  Oh,  Martin 
Conisby,"  she  whispered,  "now  thank  God  that  in  His 
mercy  He  hath  stayed  thee  from  murder ! "  So  she 
stood  awhile  then,  crossing  to  the  carven  press,  took 
thence  divers  papers  and  set  them  before  me.  "  Read !  " 
she  commanded. 

So  I  examined  these  papers  and  found  therein  indis- 
putable evidence  that  my  journey  here  was  vain  indeed, 
that  Sir  Richard,  sailing  westward,  had  been  taken  by 
Spaniards  off  Hispaniola  and  carried  away  prisoner,  none 
knew  whither. 


76        Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

And,  in  a  while,  having  read  these  papers,  I  laid  them 
bj  and  rising,  stumbled  towards  the  open  casement. 

"Well,  my  lord?"  said  she  in  strange,  breathless  fash- 
ion.    "And  what  now.?" 

"  Why  now,"  replied  I  wearily,  "  it  seems  my  ven- 
geance is  yet  to  seek." 

"Vengeance.''"  she  cried.  " Ah,  God  pity  thee !  Doth 
life  hold  for  thee  nought  better .'' " 

"  Nought ! " 

"  Vengeance  is  a  consuming  fire ! " 

"  So  seek  I  vengeance !  " 

"  Oh,  Martin  Conisby,  bethink  you !  Vengeance  is  but 
a  sickness  of  the  mind  —  a  wasting  disease  —  " 

"  So  seek  I  vengeance ! " 

"  For  him  that  questeth  after  vengeance  this  fair  world 
can  hold  nought  beside." 

"  So  give  me  vengeance ;  nought  else  seek  I  of  this 
world ! " 

"Ah,  poor  soul  —  poor  man  that  might  be,  so  do  I 
pity  thee ! " 

"  I  seek  no  man's  pity." 

"  But  I  am  a  woman,  so  shall  I  pity  thee  alway ! " 

Now  as  I  prepared  to  climb  through  the  lattice  she, 
beholding  the  sword  where  it  yet  lay,  stooped  and,  taking 
it  up,  sheathed  it.  **  This  was  thine  own  once,  I  've 
heard,"  says  she;  "take  it,  Martin  Conisby,  keep  it  clean, 
free  from  dishonour  and  leave  thy  vengeance  to  God." 

"  Not  so  !  "  answered  I,  shaking  my  head.  "  I  have  my 
knife ;  't  is  weapon  better  suited  to  my  rags  ! "  So  saying, 
I  clambered  out  through  the  lattice  even  as  I  had  come. 
Being  upon  the  terrace,  I  glanced  up  to  find  her  leaning  to 
watch  me  and  with  the  moon  bright  on  her  face. 

"Live  you  for  nought  but  vengeance.''"  she  questioned 
softly. 

"  So  aid  me  God ! "  says  I. 

"  So  shall  I  pity  thee  alway,  Martin  Conisby ! "  she 
repeated,  and  sighed  and  so  was  gone. 

Then  I  turned,  slow  of  foot,  and  went  my  solitary  way. 


CHAPTER   IX 

How  I  Swore  the  Blood-Brotheehood 

I  REMEMBER  the  mooii  was  very  bright  as,  reaching  the  end 
of  a  grassy  lane  (or  rather  cart  track),  I  saw  before  me  a 
small,  snug-seeming  tavern  with  a  board  over  th.e  door 
whereon  were  the  words : 

Y«   PECK   OF   MALT 

By 

JOEL   BYM. 

And  looking  the  place  over,  from  trim,  white  steps  be- 
fore the  door  to  trim  thatched  roof,  I  marvelled  at  its 
air  of  prosperity ;  for  here  it  stood,  so  far  removed  from 
road  and  bye-road,  so  apparently  away  from  all  habita- 
tion, and  so  lost  and  hid  by  trees  (it  standing  within  a 
little  copse)  that  it  was  great  wonder  any  customer  should 
ever  find  his  way  hither. 

The  place  was  very  quiet ;  not  a  light  showed  anywhere 
and  the  door  was  fast  shut,  which  was  nothing  strange, 
for  the  hour  was  late.  Stepping  up  to  the  door  I  knocked 
loudly  thereon  with  my  cudgel,  at  first  without  effect  but, 
having  repeated  the  summons,  a  voice  from  within  hailed 
me  gruffly : 

"Who  knocks?" 

"'The  faithful  friend'!"  answered  I.  At  this,  the 
door  swung  suddenly  open  and  a  lanthom  was  thrust  into 
my  face,  whereupon  I  fell  back  a  step,  dazzled ;  then 
gradually,  beyond  this  glare,  I  made  out  a  dark  shape 
blocking  the  doorway,  a  great  fellow,  so  prodigiously 
hairy  of  head  and  face  that  little  was  there  to  see  of 
features  save  two  round  eyes  and  a  great,  hooked  nose. 


jS        Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

"And  who  d'ye  seek,  Faithful  Friend?" 

"Master  Adam  Penfeather," 

"  Why,  then.  Faithful  Friend,  heave  ahead ! "  said  he, 
and,  making  way  for  me  to  enter,  closed  the  door  (the 
which  I  noticed  was  mighty  stout  and  strong)  and,  hav- 
ing locked  and  bolted  it,  barred  it  with  a  stout  iron  set 
into  massy  sockets  in  either  wall. 

"  You  go  mighty  secure ! "  said  I. 

*'  Cock,"  quoth  the  giant,  eyeing  me  over  slowly,  "cock, 
be  ye  a  cackler?  Because  if  so  be  you  do  cackle  overly, 
here 's  we  as  won't  love  ye  no  whit,  my  cock." 

"  Good !  "  said  I,  returning  his  look ;  "  I  seek  no  man's 
love ! " 

"  Cock,"  quoth  he,  plunging  huge  fist  into  his  beard 
and  giving  it  a  tug,  "  I  begin  to  love  ye  better  nor  I 
thought !  This  way,  cock !  "  Herewith  he  led  me  along 
a  wide,  flagged  passage  and  up  a  broad  gtair  with  massy, 
carven  handrail ;  and  as  I  went  I  saw  the  place  was  much 
bigger  than  I  had  deemed  it;  the  walls,  too,  were  panelled, 
and  I  judged  it  had  once  formed  part  of  a  noble  hcjuse. 
At  last  we  reached  the  door  whereon  the  fellow  knocked 
softly  and  so  presently  ushered  me  into  a  fair  chamber  lit 
by  wax  candles;  and  here,  seated  at  a  table  with  papers 
before  him  and  a  pen  in  his  fingers,  sat  Master  Adam 
Penfeather. 

"  Ha,  shipmate,"  said  he,  motioning  to  a  chair,  "  you 
be  something  earlier  than  I  expected;  suffer  me  to  make 
an  end  o'  this  business  —  sit  ye,  comrade,  sit !  As  for  you, 
Bo's'n,  have  up  a  flask  o'  the  Spanish  wine  —  the  black 
seal ! " 

"  Aye,  Cap'n ! "  and,  seizing  a  fistful  of  hair  above  his 
eyebrow,  the  fellow  strode  away,  closing  the  door  behind 
him. 

Now  beholding  Penfeather  as  he  bent  to  his  writing  — 
the  lean,  aquiline  face  of  him  so  smooth  and  youthful  in 
contrast  to  his  silver  hair  —  I  was  struck  by  his  changed 
look;  indeed  he  seemed  some  bookish  student  rather  than 
the  lawless  rover  I  had  thought  him,  despite  the  pistols 


The  Blood-Brotherhood         79 

at  his  elbow  and  the  long  rapier  that  dangled  at  his  chair 
back ;  moreover  there  was  about  him  also  an  air  of  latent 
power  I  had  not  noticed  ere  this. 

At  length,  having  made  an  end  of  his  writing,  he  got  up 
and  stretched  himself. 

"  So,  shipmate,  art  ready  to  swear  the  blood-fellowship 
wi'  me?  " 

"  Aye !  "  answered  I.  "  When  do  we  sail.'' "  At  this  he 
glanced  at  me  swiftly  from  the  comers  of  his  eyes. 

"  So  ho ! "  he  murmured,  pinching  his  chin.  "  The 
wind's  changed,  it  seems;  you  grow  eager  —  and  where- 
fore?" 

"'Tis  no  matter!" 

"  Shipmate,"  said  he,  shaking  his  head,  "  an  we  sail 
as  brothers  and  comrades  there  must  be  never  a  secret 
betwixt  us  —  speak ! " 

"  As  ye  will !  "  quoth  I,  leaning  back  in  my  chair.  "  I 
learn  then  you  are  sailing  as  master  in  a  ship  bound  for 
the  Main  in  quest  of  Sir  Richard  Brandon  lost  off  His- 
paniola  two  years  agone.  Sir  Richard  Brandon  is  the  man 
I  have  sought  ever  since  I  broke  out  of  the  hell  he  sold  me 
into.  Now  look  'ee,  Adam  Penfeather,"  said  I,  springing 
to  my  feet  and  grasping  his  arm,  "look  'ee  now  —  put  me 
in  the  way  of  meeting  this  man,  aid  me  to  get  my  hand 
on  this  man,  and  I  am  yours  —  aye,  body  and  soul  —  to 
the  end  o'  things,  and  this  I  swear ! " 

While  I  spake  thus,  my  voice  hoarse  with  passion,  my 
fingers  clutching  his  arm,  Penfeather  stood  pinching  his 
chin  and  watching  me  beneath  his  black  brows ;  when  I 
had  ended  he  turned  and  fell  a-pacing  to  and  fro  across 
the  room  as  it  had  been  the  narrow  poop  of  a  ship. 

"Ah  —  I  know  you  now,  my  lord!"  said  he,  pausing 
suddenly  before  me.  "  As  the  sailorman  who  watched  you 
as  you  lay  a-groaning  in  your  sleep  outside  the  Conisby 
Arms,  I  guessed  you  one  o'  the  Conisby  breed  by  your  ring, 
and  as  one  bom  and  bred  here  in  Kent  I  mind  well  the 
adage  *  To  hate  like  a  Brandon  and  revenge  like  a  Con- 
isby,' and  by  God,  my  Lord,  you  are  a  true  Conisby,  it 


8o        Black  Bartlemy*s  Treasure 

seemeth !  Vengeance !  "  says  he,  his  thin  features  grown 
sharp  and  austere.  "  Ah !  I  have  seen  much  and  overmuch 
of  it  aboard  lawless  craft  and  among  the  wild  islands  of 
the  Caribbees.  I  have  seen  the  devilish  cruelties  of  Span- 
iard, Portugal  and  the  red  horrors  of  Indian  vengeance  — 
but,  for  cold,  merciless  ferocity,  for  the  vengeance  that 
dieth  not,  biding  its  time  and  battening  on  poisonous  hate, 
it  needeth  your  man  o'  noble  birth,  your  gentleman  o' 
quality ! " 

Here  he  turned  his  back  and  paced  slowly  to  the  end 
of  the  room ;  when  he  faced  me  again  his  austere  look  was 
gone  and  in  its  stead  was  the  grimly  whimsical  expression 
of  the  mariner,  as  I  had  seen  him  first. 

"  Damme !  "  said  I,  scowling.  "  Was  it  to  read  me  hom- 
ilies you  had  me  here.^"' 

"Aha,  shipmate,"  answered  he  with  rueful  smile, 
"  there  spake  the  young  divine,  the  excellent  divinity  stu- 
dent who  committed  a  peccadillo  long  years  agone  and 
sailing  to  the  Golden  West  gave  place  to  one  Adam  Pen- 
feather,  a  sailorman  —  as  you  shall  hear  tell  of  at  St. 
Kitt's,  Tortuga,  Santa  Catalina  and  a  score  o'  places 
along  the  Main.  As  to  yourself,  shipmate,  if  'tis  only 
vengeance  ye  seek,  vengeance  let  it  be,  though,  when  all 's 
done,  'tis  but  wind  —  hist!  Here  cometh  the  Bo'sun  — 
come  in,  Jo  lad,  come  in !  'T  was  trusty  Joel  Bym  here 
gave  me  my  first  lesson  in  navigation  —  eh,  Joe?" 

*'Aye,  Cap'n,"  growled  the  hairy  giant,  "by  cock, 
them  was  the  days,  a  fair  wind,  a  quick  eye  an'  no  favour ; 
aye,  them  was  the  days,  by  cock's  body  ! "  So  saying,  he 
placed  a  flask  of  wine  on  tlie  table  together  with  a  curious 
silver  cup  and  (at  a  sign  from  Penfeather)  left  us  to- 
gether. 

"  And  now,  comrade,"  said  Penfeather,  filling  the  gob- 
let, "  draw  up  your  chair  and  do  as  I  do." 

And  now  as  we  sat  facing  each  other  (across  the  table) 
Penfeather  turns  back  his  left  sleeve  and  whipping  out  a 
knife,  nicked  himself  therewith  on  the  wrist  and  squeezed 
thence  a  few  drops  of  blood  into  the  wine ;  which  done,  he 


The  Blood-Brotherhood  8i 

passed  the  knife  to  me  and  I  (though  misliking  the  ex- 
travagance of  the  thing)  nevertheless  did  the  same. 

"Martin,"  said  he,  "give  me  your  hand  —  so!  Now 
swear  as  I  do ! "  And  thus,  clasping  each  other's  hands, 
we  swore  the  oath  of  blood-brotherhood;  and  this  as  fol- 
loweth,  viz: 

1.  To  keep  ever  each  other's  counsel. 

2.  To  aid  each  other  in  all  things  against  all  men  soever. 

3.  To  cherish  and  comfort  each  other  in  every  adversity. 

4.  To  be  faithful  each  to  each  unto  the  death. 
Thereafter,  at  his  command,  I  drank  the  wine  wherein 

our  blood  was  mingled,  and  he  did  the  like. 

"  And  now,"  said  he,  leaning  back  in  his  chair  and  view- 
ing me  with  his  pensive  smile,  "  since  we  be  brothers  and 
comrades  sworn,  how  d'ye  like  me  now?" 

"  Better  than  I  did,"  said  I,  speaking  on  impulse,  "  for 
sure  you  are  the  strangest  picaroon  that  ever  cheated  the 
gallows." 

"  Ah,"  said  he,  pinching  his  chin,  "  an  I  am  neither 
hanged  nor  murdered,  you  shall  one  day  find  me  a  wor- 
sliipful  magistrate,  Martin,  Justice  o'  the  Peace  and 
quorum,  —  custos  rotidorum  and  the  rest  on 't,  there  my 
ambition  lies.  As  for  you,  Martin,  Lord  Wendover,  there 
is  your  enemy,  ha?  Bloody  vengeance  and  murder  and 
wliat  beside?  " 

"  That  is  mine  own  concern ! "  I  retorted  angrily. 
"  And  look  'ee,  since  comrades  we  are,  you  will  forget  who 
and  what  I  am  !  " 

"  Why,  so  I  have,  Martin,  so  I  have.  Art  a  poor,  desti- 
tute rogue  that  might  be  a  man  and  rich,  but  for  this 
vengeful  maggot  i'  thy  brain.  Howbeit,  thou  'rt  my  com- 
rade sworn  and  brother-in-arms,  and  as  such  I  shall  trust 
thee  —  to  the  death,  Martin." 

"And  shall  find  me  worthy,  Adam  —  despite  thy  curst 
tongue," 

"  Death  is  an  ill  thing,  Martin  !  '* 

"  Is  it  ?  "  said  I,  and  laughed. 

"  Aye,"    he  nodded,    "  an  ill  thing  tg  him  that  hath 


82        Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

ambitions  above  the  brute.  See  here ! "  Unbuttoning  his 
doublet  he  showed  me  a  shirt  of  fine  chain  mail  beneath 
his  linen.  "  'T  will  turn  any  point  ever  forged  and  stop 
a  bullet  handsomely,  as  I  do  know." 

"  Why,  sure,"  said  I,  a  little  scornful,  "  you  avowed 
yourself  a  cautious  man  —  " 

"  True,  Martin,  I  have  another  shirt  the  like  o'  this  for 
you.  And  as  for  caution,  I  have  need,  d'  ye  see,  comrade. 
The  arrow  that  flieth  by  day  is  an  ill  enough  thing,  but 
the  knife  that  stabbeth  i'  the  dark  is  worse.  This  shirt 
hath  turned  death  thrice  already  —  once  i'  the  breast  here 
and  twice  'twixt  the  shoulders.  I  am  a  man  marked  for 
death,  Martin,  murder  creepeth  at  my  heels,  it  hath 
dogged  me  overseas  and  found  me  here  in  Kent  at  last, 
it  seems.  And,  comrade,  henceforth  the  steel  that  smiteth 
me  shall  smite  you  also,  belike." 

"  And  why  is  your  life  sought  thus  ?  " 

''  By  reason  of  a  secret  I  bear  about  me ;  wherefore 

(saving  only  my  good  friend  Nicholas  Frant  who 

perished)  I  have  ever  been  a  solitary  man  walking  alone 
and  distrustful  of  my  fellows.  For,  Martin,  I  have  here 
the  secret  of  a  treasure  that  hath  been  the  dream  and  hope 
of  roving  adventurers  along  the  Main  this  many  a  year  — 
a  treasure  beyond  price.  Men  have  sought  it  vainly, 
have  striven  and  fought,  suffered  and  died  for  it;  have 
endured  plague,  battle,  shipwreck,  famine;  have  died 
screaming  'neath  Indian  tortures,  languished  in  Spanish 
dungeon  and  slaveship  and  all  for  sake  of  Bartlemy's 
Treasure.  And  of  those  that  ever  sought  it  but  one  man 
hath  ever  seen  this  treasure,  and  I  am  that  man,  Martin. 
And  this  treasure  is  so  marvellous  well  hid  that  without  me 
it  shall  lie  unfound  till  the  trump  of  doom.  But  now,  since 
we  are  brethren  and  comrades,  needs  must  I  share  with 
thee  the  treasure  and  the  secret  of  it  —  " 

"  No,  no,  Adam !     Keep  it  to  yourself,  I  '11  none  of  it." 

"  Share  and  share !  "  said  he.  "  'T  is  the  law  of  the 
Coast  —  " 

"  None  the  less  I  want  nought  of  it." 


The  Blood-Brotherhood         83 

"  'T  is  the  law,"  he  repeated,  "  and  moreover  with  such 
vast  wealth  a  man  shall  buy  him  anything  in  this  world  — 
even  vengeance,  Martin.  Look  'ee  now,  here 's  the  secret 
of  our  treasure."  Hereupon  he  thrust  his  hand  into  his 
breast  and  drew  out  a  small  oilskin  packet  or  bag,  sus- 
pended about  his  lean  throat  by  a  thin  steel  chain,  and 
from  this  he  drew  forth  a  small  roll  of  parchment. 

"  Here  't  is,  Martin,"  he  said  softly,  "  here  's  that  so 
many  lusty  men  have  perished  for  —  not  much  to  look  at, 
shipmate,  torn,  d'  ye  see,  and  stained,  but  here 's  wealth, 
Martin,  fame,  honours,  all  the  vices  and  all  the  evils  and 
chief  among  'em  —  vengeance!" 

So  saying,  he  unrolled  the  small  scrap  of  parchment 
and  holding  it  before  me,  I  saw :  it  was  a  rough  chart. 

"  Take  it,  Martin,  and  study  it  the  while  I  tell  you  my 
story." 


CHAPTER    X 

Adam  Penfeather,  His  Naeeative 

"Mine  is  a  strange,  wild  story,  Martin,  but  needs  must 
I  tell  it  and  in  few  words  as  may  be.  Fifteen  years  agone 
(or  thereabouts)  I  became  one  of  that  league  known  as 
the  Brotherhood  of  the  Coast  and  swore  comradeship  with 
one  Nicholas  Frant,  a  Kent  man,  even  as  I.  Now  though 
I  was  full  young  and  a  cautious  man,  yet,  having  a  natural 
hatred  of  Spaniards  and  their  ways,  I  wrought  right  well 
against  them  and  was  mighty  diligent  in  many  desperate 
affrays  against  their  ships  and  along  the  Coast.  'T  was 
I  (and  my  good  comrade,  Nick  Frant)  with  sixteen  lusty 
lads  took  sea  in  an  open  pinnace  and  captured  the  great 
treasure  galleon  Dolores  del  Principe  off  Carthagena,  and 
what  with  all  this,  Martin,  and  my  being  blessed  with  some 
education  and  a  gift  of  adding  two  and  two  together,  I 
got  me  rapid  advancement  in  the  Brotherhood  until  — 
well,  shipmate,  I  that  am  poor  and  solitary  was  once  rich 
and  with  nigh  a  thousand  bully  fellows  at  command. 
And  then  it  was  that  I  fell  in  with  that  arch-devil,  that 
master  rogue  whose  deeds  had  long  been  a  terror  through- 
out the  Main,  a  fellow  more  bloody  than  any  Spaniard, 
more  treacherous  than  any  Portugal,  and  more  cruel  than 
any  Indian-Inca,  Mosquito,  Maya  or  Aztec,  and  this  man 
an  Englishman,  and  one  of  birth  and  breeding,  who  hid 
his  identity  under  the  name  of  Bartlemy.  I  met  him  first 
in  Tortuga  where  we  o'  the  Brotherhood  lay,  six  stout 
ships  and  nigh  four  hundred  men  convened  for  an  ex- 
pedition against  Santa  Catalina  and  this  for  two  reasons ; 
first,  because  'twas  a  notable  rich  city,  and  second,  to 
rescue  certain  of  the  Brotherhood  that  lay  there  waiting 
to  be  burnt  at  the  next  auto-da-fe.     Well,  Martin,  'tis 


Adam  Penfeather,  His  Narrative    85 

upon  a  certain  evening  that  this  Bartlemy  comes  aboard 
my  ship  and  with  him  his  mate,  by  name  Tressady.  And 
never  was  greater  difference  than  'twixt  these  two,  Tres- 
sady being  a  great,  wild  fellow  with  a  steel  hook  in  place 
of  his  left  hand,  d  'ye  see,  and  Bartlemy  a  slender,  dainty- 
seeming,  fiendly-smiling  gentleman,  very  nice  as  to  speech 
and  deportment  and  clad  in  the  latest  mode,  from  curling 
periwig  to  jewelled  shoe  buckles. 

" '  Captain  Penfeather,'  says  he,  '  your  most  dutiful, 
humble  —  ha,  let  me  perish  but  here  is  curst  reek  o'  tar!' 
with  which,  Martin,  he  claps  a  jewelled  pomander  to  the 
delicate  nose  of  him.  *  You  've  heard  of  me,  I  think,  Cap- 
tain,' says  he,  '  and  of  my  ship,  yonder.  The  Ladies^ 
Delight?  '  I  told  him  I  had,  Martin,  bluntly  and  to  the 
point,  whereat  he  laughs  and  bows  and  forthwith  proffers 
to  aid  us  against  Santa  Catalina,  the  which  I  refused 
forthwith.  But  my  council  of  captains,  seeing  his  ship 
was  larger  than  any  we  possessed  and  exceeding  well 
armed  and  manned,  overruled  me,  and  the  end  of  it  was  we 
sailed,  six  ships  of  the  Brotherhood  and  this  accursed 
pirate. 

"Well,  Martin,  Santa  Catalina  fell  according  to  my 
plans  and,  the  Governor  and  Council  agreeing  to  pay 
ransom,  I  drew  off  my  companies  and  camped  outside  the 
walls  of  the  town  till  they  should  collect  the  money.  Now 
the  women  of  this  place  were  exceeding  comely,  Martin, 
in  especial  the  Governor's  lady,  and  upon  the  second 
night  was  sudden  outcry  and  uproar  within  the  city. 
Whereupon  I  marched  into  the  place  forthwith  and  found 
this  curst  Bartlemy  and  his  rogues,  grown  impatient,  were 
at  their  devil's  work.  Hasting  to  the  Governor's  house, 
I  found  it  gutted  and  him  dragged  from  his  bed  and  with 
the  life  gashed  out  of  him  —  aye,  Martin,  torn  body  and 
throat,  d'ye  see,  as  by  the  fangs  of  some  great  beast! 
That  was  the  first  time  I  saw  what  a  steel  hook  may  do ! 
As  for  this  poor  gentleman's  lady,  she  was  gone.  Here- 
upon, we  o'  the  Brotherhood  fell  upon  these  pirate  rogues 
and  fought  them  by  light  o'  the  blazing  houses  (for  they 


86        Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

had  fired  the  city)  and  I,  thus  espying  the  devil  Bartlemy, 
met  him  point  to  point.  He  was  very  full  o'  rapier  tricks, 
but  so  was  I,  Martin  (also  I  was  younger)  and  winged 
him  sore  and  had  surely  ended  him,  but  that  Tressady  and 
divers  others  got  him  away  and  what  with  the  dark  night 
and  the  woods  that  lie  shorewards  he,  together  with  some 
few  of  his  crew,  got  them  back  aboard  his  ship.  The  Ladies' 
Delight  and  so  away,  but  twelve  of  his  rogues  we  took 
(beyond  divers  we  slew  in  fight)  and  those  twelve  I  saw 
hanged  that  same  hour.  A  week  later  we  sailed  for  Tor- 
tuga  with  no  less  than  ninety  and  one  thousand  pieces 
of  eight  for  our  labour,  but  I  and  those  with  me  never  had 
the  spending  of  a  single  piece,  Martin,  for  we  ran  into  a 
storm  such  as  I  never  saw  the  like  of  even  in  those  seas. 
Well,  we  ran  afore  it  for  three  days,  and  its  fury  nothing 
abating  all  this  time,  I  never  quit  the  deck;  but  I  had 
been  wounded  and  on  the  third  night,  being  fevered  and 
outworn,  turned  in  below.  I  was  awakened  by  Nick  Frant 
roaring  in  my  ear,  for  the  tempest  was  very  loud  and 
fierce : 

*'  *  Adam,'  cried  he,  *  we  're  lost,  every  soul  and  the 
good  money !  We  've  struck  a  reef,  Adam,  and  't  is  the 
end,  and  a'  of  the  good  money ! '  Hereupon  I  climbed  'bove 
deck,  the  vessel  on  her  beam  ends  and  in  desperate  plight, 
and  nought  to  be  seen  i'  the  dark  save  the  white  spume 
as  the  seas  broke  over  us.  None  the  less  I  set  the  crew 
to  cutting  away  her  masts  and  heaving  the  ordnance  over- 
board (to  lighten  her  thereby),  but  while  this  was  doing 
comes  a  great  wave  roaring  out  of  the  dark  and,  dashing 
aboard  us,  whirled  me  up  and  away  and  I,  borne  aloft  on 
that  mighty,  hissing  sea,  strove  no  more,  doubting  not  my 
course  was  run.  So,  blinded,  choking,  I  was  borne  aloft 
and  then,  Martin,  found  myself  adrift  in  water  calm  as 
any  mill  pond  —  a  small  lagoon  —  and,  spying  through 
the  dark  a  grove  of  palmetto  trees,  presently  managed  to 
climb  ashore,  more  dead  than  alive.  Lying  there,  I 
prayed  —  a  thing  I  had  not  done  for  many  a  year.  As 
the  dawn  came  I  saw  the  great  wave  had  hurled  me  over 


Adam  Penfeather,  His  Narrative    87 

the  barrier  reef  into  this  small  lagoon,  and  beyond  the 
reef  lay  all  that  remained  of  my  good  ship. 

"I  was  yet  viewing  this  dolorous  sight  (and  much,  cast 
down  for  the  loss  of  my  companions,  in  especial  my  sworn 
friend  Nicholas  Frant)  when  I  heard  a  sound  behind  me 
and,  turning  about,  espied  a  woman,  and  in  this  woman's 
face  (fair  though  it  was)  I  read  horror  and  sadness  be- 
yond tears,  and  yet  I  knew  her,  for  the  same  had  been 
wife  to  the  murdered  governor  of  Santa  Catalina. 

"  '  Go  back ! '  says  she  in  Spanish,  pointing  to  the  surf 
that  thundered  beyond  the  reef.  '  Go  back !  Here  is  the 
devil  —  the  sea  hath  more  mercy — go  back  whiles  ye  may ! ' 
And  now  she  checked  all  at  once  and  falls  a-shivering,  for 
a  voice  reached  us,  a  man's  voice  a-singing  fair  to  hear 
and  the  song  he  sang  was  this, 

'  Hey  cheerly  O  and  cheerly  O 
And  cheerly  come  sing  O 
While  at  the  mainyard  to  and  fro  — ' 

and  knowing  this  voice  (to  my  cost)  I  looked  around  for 
some  weapon,  since  I  had  none  and  was  all  but  naked, 
and  whipping  up  a  jagged  and  serviceable  stone,  stood 
awaiting  him  with  this  in  my  fist.  And  down  the  beach  he 
comes,  jocund  and  debonair  in  his  finery,  albeit  something 
pale  by  reason  of  excess  and  my  rapier  work.  And  now  I 
come  to  look  at  you,  Martin,  he  was  just  such  another  as 
you  as  to  face  and  feature,  though  lacking  your  beef  and 
bone.  Now  he,  beholding  me  where  I  stood,  flourishes  off 
his  be-laced  hat  and,  making  me  a  bow,  comes  on  smiling. 

" '  Ah,'  says  he  gaily,  '  't  is  Captain  Penfeather  of  the 
Brotherhood,  a-colloguing  with  my  latest  wife !  Is  she  not 
a  pearl  o'  dainty  woman-ware,  Captain,  a  sweet  and  lus- 
cious piece,  a  passionate,  proud  beauty  worth  the  tam- 
ing— ha.  Captain?  And  she  is  tamed,  see  you.  To  your 
dainty  knees,  wench  —  down  ! ' 

"  Now  though  he  smiled  yet  and  spake  her  gentle,  she, 
bowing  proud  head,  sank  to  her  knees,  crouching  on  the 
ground  before  him,  while  he  looked  down  on  her,  the  devil 


88        Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

in  his  eyes  and  his  jewelled  fingers  toying  with  the  dagger 
in  his  girdle,  a  strange  dagger  with  a  hilt  wrought  very 
artificially  in  the  shape  of  a  naked  woman  —  " 

"  How,"  asked  I,  leaning  across  the  table,  "  a  woman, 
Penfeather?" 

"  Aye,  shipniate !  So  I  stood  mighty  alert,  my  eyes  on 
this  dagger,  being  minded  to  whip  it  into  his  rogue's  heart 
as  chance  might  offer.  '  I  wonder,'  says  he  to  this  poor 
lady,  *I  wonder  how  long  I  shall  keep  thee,  madonna,  a 
week  —  a  month  —  a  year?  ^^enus  knoweth,  for  you 
amuse  me,  sweet  —  Rise,  rise,  dear  my  lady,  my  Dolores  of 
Joy,  rise  and  aid  me  with  thy  counsel,  for  here  hath  this 
misfortunate  clumsy  Captain  fool  blundered  into  our 
amorous  paradise,  this  tender  Cyprian  isle  sacred  to  our 
passion.  Yet  here  is  he  profaning  our  joys  with  his  base 
material  presence.  How  then  shall  we  rid  ourselves  of 
this  offence?  The  knife  —  this  lover  o'  men  of  mine? 
The  bullet?  Yet  'tis  a  poor  small  naked  rogue,  and  in 
two  days  cometh  my  Ladi^s^  Delight  and  Tressady  with 
his  hook  —  see,  my  Dolores,  for  two  days  he  shall  be  our 
slave  and  thereafter,  for  thy  joy,  shall  show  thee  how 
to  die,  my  sweet  —  torn  'twixt  pimento  trees  or  Tressady's 
hook  —  thou  shalt  choose  the  manner  of  't.  And  now, 
unveil,  unveil,  my  goddess  of  the  isle  —  so  shall  — '  Ha, 
Martin !  My  stone  took  him  'neath  the  ear,  and  as  he 
swayed  reeling  to  the  blow,  lithe  and  swift  as  any  panther 
this  tortured  woman  sprang,  and  I  saw  the  flash  of  steel 
ere  it  was  buried  in  his  breast.  Even  then  he  didn't  fall, 
but,  staggering  to  a  pimento  tree,  leans  him  there  and 
falls  a-laughing,  a  strange,  high-pitched,  gasping  laugh, 
and  as  he  laughed  thus,  I  saw  the  silver  haft  of  the  dagger 
that  was  a  woman  leap  and  quiver  in  his  breast.  Then, 
laughing  yet,  he,  never  heeding  me,  plucked  and  levelled 
sudden  pistol,  and  when  the  smoke  cleared  the  brave  Span- 
ish lady  lay  dead  upon  the  sands. 

" '  A  noble  piece.  Captain,'  says  he,  gasping  for  breath, 
and  then  to  her,  *Art  gone,  my  goddess  —  I  —  follow 
thee ! '    And  now  he  sinks  to  his  knees  and  begins  to  crawl 


Adam  Pehfeather,  His  Narrative    89 

where  she  lay,  but  getting  no  further  than  her  feet  (by 
reason  of  his  faintness)  he  clasps  her  feet  and  kisses  them, 
and  laying  his  head  upon  them  —  closes  his  eyes.  '  Pen- 
feather  ! '  he  groans,  '  my  treasure  —  hidden  —  dagger  — ' 

"Then  I  came  very  hastily  and  raised  his  head  (for  I 
had  oft  heard  talk  o'  this  treasure)  and  in  that  moment 
he  died.  So  I  left  them  lying  and  coming  to  the  seaboard 
sat  there  a  great  while,  watching  the  break  o'  the  seas 
on  what  was  left  o'  the  wreck,  yet  seeing  it  not.  I  sat 
there  till  noon,  Martin,  until,  driven  by  thirst  and  hunger 
and  heat  of  sun,  I  set  off  to  seek  their  habitation,  for  by 
their  looks  I  judged  them  well-fed  and  housed.  But,  and 
here  was  the  marvel,  Martin,  seek  how  I  might  I  found  no 
sign  of  any  hut  or  shelter  save  that  afforded  by  nature 
(as  caves  and  trees)  and  was  forced  to  satisfy  my  crav- 
ings with  such  fruits  as  flourished  in  profusion,  for  this 
island,  Martin,  is  a  very  earthly  paradise. 

"  That  night,  the  moon  being  high  and  bright,  I  came 
to  that  stretch  of  silver  sand  beside  the  lagoon  where  they 
lay  together  rigid  and  pale  and,  though  I  had  no  other 
tool  but  his  dagger  and  a  piece  o'  driftwood,  made  shift 
to  bury  them  'neath  the  great  pimento  tree  that  stood 
beside  the  rock,  and  both  in  the  same  grave.  Which  done, 
I  betook  me  to  a  dry  cave  hard  by  a  notable  fall  of  water 
that  plungeth  into  a  lake  and  there  passed  the  night. 
Next  day,  having  explored  the  island  very  thoroughly 
and  dined  as  best  I  might  on  shell  fish  that  do  abound,  I 
sat  me  down  where  I  might  behold  the  sea  and  fell  to 
viewing  of  this  silver-hilted  dagger  —  " 

"  The  which  was  shaped  like  to  a  woman.''  "  asked  I. 

"  Aye,  Martin.  And  now,  bethinking  me  of  Bartlemy's 
dying  words  anent  this  same  dagger,  and  of  the  tales  I 
had  heard  full  oft  along  the  Main  regarding  this  same 
Bartlemy  and  his  hidden  treasure,  I  fell  to  handling  this 
dagger,  turning  and  twisting  it  this  way  and  that.  And 
suddenly,  shipmate,  I  felt  the  head  turn  ypon  the  shoulders 
'twixt  the  clasping  hands ;  turn  and  turn  until  it  came 
away  and  showed  a  cavity,  and  in  this  cavity  a  roll  of 


90       Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

parchment  and  that  parchment  none  other  than  this  map 
with  the  cryptogram  the  which  I  could  make  nought  of. 

"Now  as  I  sat  thus,  studying  this  meaningless  jumble 
of  words,  I  of  a  sudden  espied  a  man  below  me  on  the  reef, 
a  wild,  storm-tossed  figure,  his  scanty  clothing  all  shreds 
and  tatters,  and  as  he  went  seeking  of  shellfish  that  were 
plenteous  enough,  I  knew  him  for  my  sworn  comrade  Nick 
Frant.  And  then,  Martin,  I  did  a  strange  thing,  for, 
blood-brothers  though  we  were,  I  made  haste  (and  all  of 
a  tremble)  to  slip  back  this  map  into  its  hiding  place, 
which  done  I  arose,  hailing  my  comrade,  and  went  to  meet 
him  joyously  enough.  And  no  two  men  in  the  world 
more  rejoiced  than  we,  as  we  clasped  hands  and  embraced 
each  other  as  only  comrades  may.  It  seemed  the  hugeous 
sea  that  had  caught  me  had  caught  him  likewise  and  hurled 
him,  sore  bruised,  some  miles  to  the  south  of  the  reef.  So 
now  I  told  him  of  the  deaths  of  Bartlemy  and  the  poor 
lady,  yet  Martin  (and  this  was  strange)  I  spoke  nothing 
of  knife  or  treasure;  I  told  him  of  the  expectation  I  had 
of  the  pirate  ship's  return,  and  yet  I  never  once  spake  o' 
the  map  and  chart.  And  methinks  the  secret  cast  a 
shadow  betwixt  us  that  grew  ever  deeper,  for  as  the  days 
passed  and  no  sail  appeared,  there  came  a  strangeness,  an 
unlove  betwixt  us  that  grew  until  one  day  we  fell  to  open 
quarrel,  disputation  and  deadly  strife,  and  the  matter  no 
more  than  a  dead  man's  shirt  (and  that  ragged)  that  had 
come  ashore. 

"  And  we  (being  in  rags  and  the  sun  scorching)  each 
claimed  this  shirt,  and  from  words  came  blows.  He  had 
his  seaman's  knife  and  I  Bartlemy's  accursed  dagger,  and 
so  we  fought  after  the  manner  of  the  buccaneers,  his  leg 
bound  fast  to  mine  and,  Martin,  though  he  was  a  great 
fellow  and  strong  and  wounded  me  sore,  in  the  end  I  got 
in  a  thrust  under  the  armpit,  and  he  fell  a-dying  and  I 
with  him.  Then  I  (seeing  death  in  his  eyes,  Martin) 
clasped  him  in  my  arms  and  kissed  him  and  besought  him 
not  to  die,  whereat  he  smiled.  'Adam! 'says  he,  'why, 
Adam,  lad  — '  and  so  died. 


Adam  Penfeather,  His  Narrative    91 

"  Then  I  took  that  accursed  dagger,  wet  with  my  com- 
rade's life  blood,  and  hurled  it  from  me,  and  so  with  many 
tears  and  lamentations  I  presently  buried  poor  Nick 
Frant  in  the  sands  and  lay  there  face  down  upon  his  grave, 
wetting  it  with  my  tears  and  groaning  there  till  nightfall. 
But  all  next  day,  Martin  (though  my  heart  yearned  to 
my  slain  friend),  all  next  day  I  spent  seeking  and  search- 
ing for  the  dagger  that  had  killed  him.  And  as  the  sun 
set,  I  found  it.  Thereafter  I  passed  my  days  (since  the 
pirate  ship  came  not,  doubtless  owing  to  the  late  tempest) 
studying  the  writing  on  the  chart  here,  yet  came  no 
nearer  a  solution,  though  my  imagination  was  inflamed  by 
mention  of  diamonds,  rubies  and  pearls  as  ye  may  see 
written  here  for  yourself.  So  the  time  passed  till  one  day 
at  dawn  I  beheld  a  great  ship,  her  mizzen  and  fore-top- 
masts gone,  standing  in  for  my  island,  and  as  she  drew 
nearer,  I  knew  her  at  last  for  that  accursed  pirate  ship 
called  Ladies'  Delight.  Being  come  to  anchor  within  some 
half-mile  or  so,  I  saw  a  boat  put  off  for  the  reef  and,  lying 
well  hid,  I  watched  this  boat,  steered  by  a  knowing  hand, 
pass  through  the  reef  by  a  narrow  channel  and  so  enter 
the  lagoon.  Now  in  this  boat  were  six  men  and  at  the 
rudder  sat  Tressady,  and  I  saw  his  hook  flash  in  the  sun 
as  he  sprang  ashore.  Having  beached  their  boat,  they  fell 
to  letting  off  their  calivers  and  pistols  and  hallooing: 

"  *  Oho,  Captain  ! '  they  roared.  *  Bartlemy,  ahoy ! ' 
And  this  outcry  maintained  they  for  some  while.  But 
none  appearing  to  answer,  they  seemed  to  take  counsel 
together  and  thereafter  set  off  three  and  three,  shouting 
as  they  went.  And  now  it  seemed  they  knew  no  more  of 
Bartlemy's  hiding  place  than  I,  whereat  I  rejoiced  greatly. 
So  lay  I  all  that  forenoon  watching  their  motions  and 
hearing  their  outcries  now  here,  now  there,  until,  marvel- 
ling at  the  absence  of  Bartlemy,  they  sat  down  all  six 
upon  the  spit  of  sand  whereby  I  lay  hid  and  fell  to  eating 
and  drinking,  talking  the  while,  though  too  low  for  me  to 
hear  what  passed.  But  all  at  once  they  seemed  to  fall  to 
disputation,  Tressady  and  a  small,  dark  fellow  against 


92        Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

the  four,  and  thereafter  to  brawl  and  fight,  though  this 
was  more  butchery  than  fight,  Martin,  for  Tressady 
shoots  down  two  ere  they  can  rise  and,  leaping  up,  falls  on 
other  two  with  his  hook —  !  So  with  aid  from  the  small, 
dark  fellow  they  soon  have  made  an  end  o'  their  four  com- 
panions and,  leaving  them  lying,  come  up  the  beach  and 
sitting  below  the  ledge  of  rock  whereon  I  lay  snug  hid- 
den, fell  to  talk. 

"  *  So  Ben,  comarado  mio,  we  be  committed  to  it  now ! 
Since  these  four  be  dead  and  all  men  well-loved  by 
Bartlemy,  needs  must  Bartlemy  follow  'em ! ' 

" '  Aye ! '  says  the  man  Ben,  '  when  we  have  found  him. 
Though  Bartlemy 's  a  fighting  man ! ' 

" '  And  being  a  man  can  die,  Ben.  And  he  once  dead, 
we  stand  his  heirs  —  you  and  I,  Ben,  I  and  you ! ' 

"  *  Well  and  good ! '  says  Ben.  '  But  for  this  treasure, 
where  lieth  it  and  for  that  matter,  Roger,  where  is 
Bartlemy? ' 

" '  Both  to  find,  Ben,  so  let  us  set  about  it  forthwith.' 
The  which  they  did,  Martin;  for  three  days  they  sought 
the  island  over  and  I  watching  'em.  On  the  third  day,  as 
they  are  sitting  'neath  the  great  pimento  tree  I  have  men- 
tioned (and  I  watching  close  by),  Tressady  sits  up  all  at 
once. 

"*Ben!'  says  he,  'what  be  yon?'  and  he  pointed  to  a 
mound  of  sand  hard  by. 

"  *  Lord  knoweth ! '    says  Ben. 

" '  Yon 's  been  digging,'  says  Tressady,  *  and  none  so 
long  since ! ' 

"'Aye,'  said  Ben,  'and  now  what.'" 

"  '  Now,'   says  Tressady,  '  let  us  dig  likewise.' 

"'Aye,  but  what  with?  '  says  Ben. 

" '  Our  fingers  ! '  says  Tressady.  So  there  and  then 
they  fell  to  digging,  casting  up  the  loose  sand  with  their 
two  hands,  dog-fashion  and  I,  watching,  turned  my  head 
that  I  might  not  see. 

" '  Ha ! '  says  Tressady,  in  a  while,  '  here  is  foul  reek, 
Ben,  foul  reek.' 


Adam  Penfeather,  His  Narrative    93 

" '  Right  curst ! '  says  Ben  and  then  uttered  a  great, 
hoarse  cry.  And  I,  knowing  what  they  had  come  upon, 
kept  my  face  turned  away.     '  'T  is  she ! '  whispers  Ben. 

"'Aye,  and  him!'  says  Tressady.  *!Faugh!  Man, 
't  is  ill  thing,  but  needs  must  —  his  dagger,  Ben,  his 
dagger.' 

"  '  Here  's  no  dagger,'  says  Ben.  *  Here  's  empty  sheath 
but  no  steel  in  't ! ' 

"  *  'T  is  fallen  out ! '  says  Tressady  in  strangled  voice. 
'  Seek,  Ben,  seek ! '  So  despite  the  horror  of  the  thing, 
they  sought,  Martin;  violating  death  and  careless  of  cor- 
ruption they  sought,  and  all  the  time  the  thing  they  sought 
was  quivering  in  this  right  hand. 

"'Ben,'  says  Tressady  when  they  were  done,  'Ben  — 
how  came  he  dead  —  how  ?  ' 

"'Who  shall  say,  Roger .^^  Mayhap  they  did  each 
other's  business.' 

" '  Why,  then  —  where  's   the  dagger  o'  the  woman  — 
the  silver  goddess  —  where.'*    And  how  came  they  buried.'' ' 
"  '  Aye,  there 's  the  rub,  Roger ! ' 

" '  Why,'    says  Tressady,    '  look  'ee,  Ben,    't  is  in  my 
mind  we're  not  alone  on  this  island  — ' 
"  '  And  who  should  be  here,  Roger?  ' 
" '  The  man  that  slew  our  Captain  ! '     Here  there  was 
silence  awhile ;  then  the  man  Ben  rose  and  spat. 

"  '  Faugh ! '  says  he.  '  Come  away,  Roger,  ere  I  stifle  — 
come,  i'  the  devil's  name ! '  So  they  went  and  I  lying  hid 
secure  watched  them  out  of  sight. 

"  Now  when  they  were  gone  I  took  counsel  with  myself, 
for  here  were  two  desperate,  bloody  rogues  very  well 
armed,  and  here  was  I  a  solitary  man  with  nought  to  my 
defence  save  for  Nick's  knife  and  the  silver-hilted  dagger 
which  was  heavy  odds,  Martin,  as  you  '11  agree.  Now 
I  have  ever  accounted  myself  a  something  timid  man, 
wherefore  in  cases  of  desperate  need  and  danger  I  have 
been  wont  to  rely  on  my  wit  rather  than  weapons, 
on  head  rather  than  hands.  So  now  as  I  looked  upon  this 
cursed  dagger  wherewith  I  had  slain  my  poor  friend,  be- 


94       Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

holding  this  e\al  silver  woman  whose  smile  seemed  verily 
to  allure  men  to  strife  and  bloodshed,  the  end  of  it  was 
I  stole  from  my  lurking  place  and  set  the  dagger  amid  the 
gnarled  roots  of  the  great  pimento  tree  where  it  might 
have  slipped  from  dying  fingers,  and  so  got  me  back  into 
hiding.  And  sure  enough  in  a  while  comes  the  big  man 
Tressady,  a-stealing  furtive-fashion,  and  falls  to  hunting 
both  in  the  open  grave  and  round  about  but,  finding 
nothing,  steals  him  off  again.  Scarce  was  he  out  of  eye- 
shot, Martin,  than  cometh  the  little  dark  fellow  Ben,  who 
likewise  fell  to  stealthy  search,  grubbing  here  and  there 
on  hands  and  knees  yet  with  none  better  fortune  than  his 
comrade.  But  of  a  sudden  he  gives  a  spring  and,  stoop- 
ing, stands  erect  with  Bartlemy's  dagger  in  his  hand. 
Now  scarce  had  he  found  it  than  comes  Tressady  creeping 
from  where  he  had  lain  watching. 

"*Ha,  Ben!'  says  he  jovially.  'How  then,  lad,  how 
then.'*  Hast  found  what  we  sought?  Here's  luck,  Ben, 
here's  luck!  Aye,  by  cock,  'tis  your  fortune  to  find  it, 
and  your  fortune's  my  fortune,  eh,  Ben  —  us  being  com- 
rades, Ben.?' 

" '  Aye,'  says  Ben,  turning  the  dagger  this  way  and 
that. 

*' '  Ha'  ye  come  on  the  chart,  Ben ;  ha'  ye  found  the 
luck  in't,  Ben?' 

"  *  Stay,  Roger,  I  've  but  just  picked  it  up  I  — ' 

"  '  And  was  coming  to  your  comrade  with  it,  eh,  Ben  — 
share  and  share  —  eh,  Benno  —  Bennie?' 

*' '  Aye,'  says  Ben,  staring  down  at  the  thing,  *  but 
't  was  me  as  found  it,  Roger ! ' 

*'*And  what  then,  lad,  what  then?' 

" '  Why,  then,  Roger,  since  I  found  it,  't  is  mine,'  says 
he,  gripping  the  dagger  in  quivering  fist  and  glancing  up 
sideways. 

"*Hilt  and  blade,  Ben!' 

" '  And  the  chart,  Roger ! ' 

" '  Aye,  and  the  chart,  Ben  ! '  says  Tressady,  coming  a 
pace  nearer,  and  I  saw  his  hook  glitter. 


Adam  Penfeather,  His  Narrative    95 

*'  *  And  the  treasure,  Roger  ?  '  says  Ben,  making  little 
passes  in  the  air  to  see  the  blue  gleam  of  the  steel. 

" '  All  yours,  Ben,  all  yours,  and  what 's  yours  is  mine, 
according  to  oath,  Ben,  to  oath !  But  come,  Ben,  you  hold 
the  secret  o'  the  treasure  in  your  fist  —  the  silver  god- 
dess. Come,  the  chart,  lad,  out  wi'  the  chart,  and  Bartle- 
my's  jewels  are  ours  —  pearls,  Ben  —  diamonds,  rubies  — 
aha,  come,  find  the  chart  —  let  your  comrade  aid  ye, 
lad  —  ' 

"  *  Stand  back ! '  says  Ben  and  whips  a  pistol  from  his 
belt.  '  Look  'ee,  Roger,'  says  he,  '  I  found  the  dagger 
without  ye,  and  I'll  find  the  chart — stand  back!' 

"  *  Why,  here 's  ill  manners  to  a  comrade,  Ben,  ill  man- 
ners, sink  me  —  but  as  ye  will.  Only  out  wi'  the  chart, 
and  let 's  go  seek  the  treasure,  Ben.' 

"'D'ye  know  the  secret  o'  this  thing,  Roger  .f" 

" '  Not  I,  Ben  ! ' 

*' '  Why,  then  must  I  break  it  asunder.  Hand  me  yon 
piece  o'  rock,'  says  Ben,  pointing  to  a  heavy  stone  that 
chanced  to  be  near. 

"  *  Stay,  Ben  lad,  't  were  pity  to  crush  the  silver  woman, 
but  if  you  will,  you  will,  Ben  —  take  a  hold!'  So  saying, 
Tressady  picked  up  the  stone,  but,  as  his  comrade  reached 
to  take  it,  let  it  fall,  whereon  Ben  stooped  for  it,  and  in 
that  moment  Tressady  was  on  him.  And  then  —  ha, 
Martin,  I  heard  the  man  Ben  scream  and  as  he  writhed, 
saw  Tressady's  hook  at  work  .  .  .  the  man  screamed  but 
once  .  .  .  and  then,  wiping  the  hook  on  his  dead  com- 
rade's coat,  he  took  up  the  dagger  and  began  to  unscrew 
the  head.  But  now,  Martin,  methought  'twas  time  for 
me  to  act,  if  I  meant  to  save  my  life,  for  I  had  nought 
but  Nick  Frant's  knife,  while  within  Tressady's  reach  lay 
the  dead  man's  pistols  and  divers  musquetoons  and  fusees 
on  the  beach  behind  him,  which  put  me  to  no  small  panic 
lest  he  shoot  me  ere  I  could  come  at  him  with  my  knife. 
Thus,  as  I  lay  watching,  I  took  counsel  with  myself  how 
I  might  lure  him  away  from  these  firearms  wherewith 
he  might  hunt  me  down  and  destroy  me  at  his  ease;  and 


96       Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

the  end  of  it  was  I  started  up  all  at  once  and,  leaning 
down  towards  him,  shook  the  parchment  in  his  face.  '  Ha, 
Tressady ! '  says  I.  *  Is  this  the  tiling  you  've  murdered 
your  comrades  for?'  Now  at  this  Tressady  sprang  back, 
to  stare  from  me  to  the  thing  in  my  hand,  Martin,  and 
then  —  ha,  then  with  a  wild-beast  roar  he  sprang  straight 
at  me  with  his  hook  —  even  as  I  had  judged  he  would.  As 
for  me,  I  turned  and  ran,  making  for  a  rocky  ledge  I 
knew,  with  Tressady  panting  behind  me,  his  hook  ringing 
on  the  rocks  as  he  scrambled  in  pursuit.  So  at  last  we 
reached  the  place  I  sought  —  a  shelf  of  rock,  the  cliff 
on  one  side,  Martin,  and  on  the  other  a  void  with  the  sea 
thundering  far  below  —  a  narrow  ledge  where  his  great 
bulk  hampered  him  and  his  strength  availed  little.  And 
there  we  fought,  his  dagger  and  hook  against  my  dead 
comrade's  knife,  and  thus  as  he  sprang  I,  falling  on  my 
knee,  smote  up  beneath  raised  arm,  heard  him  roar  and 
saw  him  go  whirling  over  and  down  and  splash  into  the 
sea  —  " 

"  And  had  the  dagger  with  him,  Adam ! "  said  I  in 
eager  question. 

"  Aye,  Martin,  which  was  the  end  of  an  ill  rogue  and  an 
evil  thing  —  " 

"The  end,"  said  I,  "the  end,  Adam.?  Why,  then  — 
what  o'  this.?" 

So  saying,  I  whipped  the  strange  dagger  from  my  wal- 
let and  held  it  towards  him,  balanced  upon  my  palm.  Now 
beholding  this,  Penfeather's  eyes  opened  suddenly  wide, 
then  narrowed  to  slits  as,  viewing  this  deadly  thing,  he 
drew  back  and  back  and  so  sat  huddled  in  his  chair 
utterly  still,  only  I  heard  his  breath  hiss  softly  'twixt 
clenched  teeth. 

"  Martin,"  said  he  in  the  same  hushed  voice,  "  when  a 
man 's  dead  he 's  dead,  and  the  dead  can  never  come  back, 
can  they,  shipmate.?" 

But  now,  as  we  sat  thus,  eyeing  the  evil  thing  on  the 
table  betwixt  us,  my  answer  died  on  my  lips,  for  there 
came  a  sharp,  quick  rapping  of  fingers  on  the  lattice. 


CHAPTER   XI 

Telleth  of  a  Fight  in  the  Dark 

Penfeather  was  at  the  casement,  had  whipped  open  the 
lattice  and,  pinning  the  intruder  by  the  throat,  thrust  a 
pistol  into  his  face  all  in  a  moment ;  and  then  I  recognized 
Godby  the  peddler. 

"  Let  be,  Adam !  "  I  cried,  springing  forward.  "  Let  be, 
here  's  a  friend !  "  Saying  nothing,  Penfeather  thrust 
away  the  weapon  and,  gripping  the  little  man  in  both 
hands,  with  prodigious  strength  jerked  him  bodily  in 
through  the  ^vindow ;  which  done,  he  clapped  to  the  lattice 
and,  drawing  the  curtain,  stood  fronting  Godby  grim- 
lipped. 

"  And  now  what  ?  "  he  said  softly. 

"  Lord !  "  gasped  Godby.  "  Lord  love  me,  but  here  's 
a  welcome  to  a  pal ;  here 's  the  second  pistol  I  've  had 
under  my  nose  this  night  —  throttle  me  in  a  hayband 
else ! " 

"What  d'ye  seek.?" 

"  My  pal  Martin,  'cording  to  his  word." 

"D'ye  know  this  fellow,  Martin?" 

"Aye!"  I  nodded  and  told  briefly  how  and  where  we 
had  met. 

"  God-be-here  Jenkins  am  I,  master,"  said  Godby,  "  and 
well  beknowri  to  Joel  Bym,  as  keepeth  this  house,  strangle 
me  else — ask  Joel!  And  if  you're  Master  Penfeather, 
I  've  first  this  here  for  ye  and  second,  a  warning."  And 
speaking,  Godby  drew  a  letter  from  the  breast  of  his 
leathern  jerkin. 

"A  warning?"  said  Penfeather,  glancing  at  the  super- 
scription.    "Against  whom. f^" 


98        Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

"  A  black  dog  as  goes  erect  on  two  legs  and  calls  him- 
self Gregory  Bragg." 

"You  mean  Lady  Brandon's  under-bailiff?" 

"  I  do  so.  Well,  he  be  no  friend  o'  youm,  and  what 's 
more,  he's  hand  and  fist  wi'  others  as  be  no  friends  o' 
youm  either,  cutthroat  sailormen  and  black  rogues  every 
one.'* 

"How  d'ye  know  'em  for  sailormen .f"' 

"  By  their  speech,  master  —  I  was  a  mariner  once  — 
and  moreover  by  a  ranting,  hell-fire  chorus." 

"  Ha ! "  said  Penfeather,  shooting  a  glance  at  me.  "  A 
chorus,  was  it.^* " 

"  Aye,  master,  concerning  murder  and  what  not." 

"  And  the  words  running  like  this : 

"  Two  on  a  knife  did  part  wi'  life 
And  three  a  bullet  took  O 
But  three  times  three  died  plaguily 
A-wriggling  on  a  hook  O !  — 

Was  that  the  way  of  it  ?  " 

"  Smother  me  if  it  were  n't ! "  quoth  Godby,  staring. 

*'  Sit  down,  Godby,  and  tell  me  how  you  chanced  on 
this,"  and  Adam  seated  himself  at  the  table. 

"  Well,  master,  I  happened  to  lie  snug  hid  'neath  a  heap 
o'  straw  —  and  for  why,  says  you.''  Says  I  to  you,  by 
reason  o'  two  lousy  catchpolls  as  won't  let  poor  Godby 
be.  Now  this  straw  chanced  to  be  in  my  Lady  Brandon's 
stables — and  why  there,  says  you.''  Says  I  to  you,  be- 
cause these  lousy  catchpolls,  being  set  on  poor  Godby  by 
this  black  dog  Gregory  and  him  my  lady's  man,  my  lady's 
stables  is  the  last  place  catchpolls  would  come  a-seeking 
Godby.  Well  now,  as  I  lie  there,  I  fall  asleep.  Now  I  'm 
a  light  sleeper,  and  presently  I  'm  roused  by  the  sound  o' 
your  name,  master." 

"Mine?"  said  Penfeather  softly. 

"  Aye.  *  Here 's  a  black  passage  to  Captain  Penfeather 
—  curse  him ! '  says  a  voice.  *  Aye,'  says  another,  '  by 
knife  or  bullet  or — '  and  here  he  falls  to  singing  of  a 


Telle th  of  a  Fight  in  the  Dark    99 

knife  and  a  bullet  and  a  hook.  *  Avast ! '  says  a  third 
voice.  'Belay  that,  Abny,  you'll  be  having  all  the  lub- 
bers about  the  place  aboard  of  us  ! '  '  Why,'  says  the  man 
Abny,  *  since  you're  in  wi'  us,  well  and  good,  but  don't 
forget  we  was  hard  in  his  wake,  aye,  and  ready  to  lay  him 
aboard  long  before  you  hove  in  sight  and  damn  all,  says 
I.'  '  Some  day,  Abny,  some  day,'  says  the  other,  '  I  shall 
cut  out  that  tongue  o'  youm  and  watch  ye  eat  it,  lad,  eat 
it  —  hist,  here  cometh  Gregory  at  last  —  easy  all.'  Now 
the  moon  was  very  bright,  master,  and  looking  out  o'  my 
hay  pile  as  the  door  opened  I  spied  this  rogue  Gregory — " 

"  Did  ye  see  aught  o'  the  others .'' "  questioned  Adam 
eagerly. 

*'  No,  master,  not  plain,  for  they  kept  to  the  dark,  but 
I  could  see  they  was  four,  and  one  a  very  big  man.  '  Ha' 
ye  got  it,  friend,  ha'  ye  got  it? '  says  the  big  rogue.  '  No, 
plague  on 't ! '  says  Gregory.  '  Look  how  I  will,  I  can  find 
nought.'  *  Here 's  luck ! '  says  the  big  fellow.  '  Bad  luck, 
as  I  'm  a  souL  Where 's  he  lie?  '  '  Can't  say,'  says  Greg- 
ory. '  His  messages  go  to  the  Conisby  Arms,  but  he  are  n't 
there,  I  know.'  *  The  FaithfuU  Friend,  was  it,'  says  the 
big  fellow,  *a-lying  off  Deptford  Creek?'  *Aye,  the 
FaithfuU  Friend,^  says  Gregory  and  then  chancing  to  look 
outside,  claps  finger  to  lip  and  comes  creeping  into  the 
shadow.  *Lie  low!'  says  he  in  a  whisper  —  'here's  my 
lady  — '  And  then,  master,  close  outside  comes  my  lady's 
voice  calling  '  Gregory !  Gregory ! '  '  Answer,  fool ! ' 
whispers  the  big  man.  'Quick,  or  she'll  be  athwart  our 
cable ! '  '  Here,  my  lady ! '  says  Gregory  and  steps  out  o' 
the  stable  as  she 's  about  to  step  in.  '  Gregory,'  says  she 
in  hesitating  fashion,  '  have  ye  seen  a  stranger  hereabouts 
to-night?'  'Not  a  soul,  my  lady!'  says  Gregory.  'A 
tall,  wild  man,'  says  she,  *  very  ragged  and  with  yellow 
hair .3'  'No,  my  lady,'  says  Gregory.  Here  she  gives  a 
sigh.  'Why,  then,'  says  she,  'bear  you  this  letter  to 
Master  Penfeather — at  once.'  'To  the  Conisby  Arms, 
my  lady?*  says  Gregory.  'No,'  says  she,  'to  the  Peck 
o'  Malt  by  Bedgebury  Cross.     And  Gregory,  should  you 


loo     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

see  aught  of  the  poor  man  that  suffered  lately  in  the  pil- 
lory, say  I  would  speak  with  him.  And  now  saddle  and: 
begone  with  my  letter.'  'To  Bedgebury,'  says  Gregory,] 
'the  Peck  o'  Malt  to-night,  my  lady.?'  'This  moment!*: 
says  she,  mighty  sharp,  'And,  Gregory,  I  hear  tales  of 
your  hard  dealing  with  some  of  the  tenantry;  let  me  hear, 
no  more,  or  you  quit  my  service ! '  And  away  she  goes, 
leaving  Gregory  staring  after  her,  letter  in  hand.  '  'T  was  | 
she ! '  says  the  big  man  in  a  whisper.  *  I  'd  know  her  voice! 
anywhere — aye,  'twas  she  whipped  it  from  my  girdle — j 
my  luck,  shipmates,  our  luck  —  but  we'll  find  it  if  wei 
have  to  pull  the  cursed  house  down  brick  and  brick.' "      i 

"  Godby,"  said  Adam  suddenly,  leaning  forward,  "didj 
ye  get  no  glimpse  o'  this  man's  face.'*"  i 

"  Nary  a  one,  master,  and  for  why  ?  The  place  was ' 
dark  and  he  wore  a  great  flapped  hat." 

"  Why  then,"  said  Adam,  pinching  his  cliin,  "  did  ye' 
chance  to  see  his  hands  ?  "  • 

"  No  whit,  master,  and  for  why  —  he  wore  a  loose  cloak] 
about  him."  1 

"  And  what  more  did  ye  hear.^* "  j 

"No  more,  master,  and  for  why.?  Because,  as  luckj 
would  have  it,  a  straw  tickled  my  nose,  and  I  sneezed  loud  i 
as  a  demiculverin,  and  there's  poor  Godby  up  and  run-i 
ning  for  his  life  and  these  murderous  rogues  after  poor 
Godby.  Howbeit  they  durst  not  shoot  lest  they  should' 
alarm  the  house,  and  I  'm  very  light  on  my  feet,  and  being, 
small  and  used  to  dodging  catchpolls  and  the  like  vermin, 
I  got  safe  away.  Having  done  which  and  bethinking  me  of  i 
my  pal  Martin,  I  made  for  the  Peck  o'  Malt.  Now  as  luck ' 
would  have  it  Gregory  overtakes  me  (as  I  had  purposed  j 
he  should,  I  being  minded  to  get  even  wi'  him  for  good 
and  all)  ;  down  he  gets  from  the  saddle  and  has  me  by  the  j 
collar  and  claps  a  great  snaphance  under  my  nose.  '  So  it 
was  you,  ye  rogue,  was  it.? '  says  he.  '  That  same,'  says  I,i 
'  but  who  's  that  peeping  over  the  hedge  there  ?  '  The  fool  i 
turns  to  see,  I  twist  the  pistol  out  of  his  grip  and  have< 
him  very  neatly  trussed  and  gagged  with  his  belt  and  my  i 


Telleth  of  a  Fight  in  the  Dark    i  o  i 

girdle,  and  so,  heaving  him  i'  the  ditch,  into  saddle  and 
here  I  am." 

"Godby,"  said  Penfeather,  viewing  him  keen-eyed,  "I 
need  men  —  will  ye  sail  with  us  for  the  Main?" 

"Does  Martin  sail?" 

"  He  does  !     Will  ye  along?  » 

*'  Heartily,  Captain,  heartily !  " 

"  Are  ye  armed,  Godby  ?  " 

"  I  've  Gregory's  dag  here,"  said  Godby,  pulling  out  a 
long-barrelled  pistol. 

"  Joel  shall  find  ye  another  to  go  with  it.  And  ye  know 
the  sea?  " 

"  Aye,  Captain,  I  sailed  with  Captain  Myddleton  as 
gunner  and  will  lay  you  a  gun  with  any  man,  from  a 
murdering-piece  or  minion  to  a  great  culverin." 

"  Good ! "  said  Penfeather  and  summoned  Joel  Bym, 
who,  beholding  the  peddler,  stared,  bellowed  jovial  greet- 
ing and,  at  a  nod  from  Penfeather,  departed  with  him,  arm 
in  arm. 

"  Well,  Martin,"  said  Adam,  when  the  door  had  closed, 
"and  what  d'ye  make  o'  this  tale  of  sailormen?" 

"  That  they  're  the  same  rogues  I  fell  out  with." 

"Beyond  doubt,  Martin.     And  what  more?" 

"  That  like  enough  they  're  on  their  road  hither." 

"  Beyond  any  peradventure,  shipmate." 

"Well?" 

"Well,  let  'em  come,  Martin,  let  'em  come.  There's 
somewhat  here  I  don't  understand,  and  I  mislike  mystery. 
So  let  them  come,  here  in  this  little  room,  in  light  or  dark, 
I  ask  no  better." 

"  And  you  such  a  timid  man,  Adam ! " 

*'  True,  Martin,  but  there 's  occasions  when  a  worm 
tumeth."  Here  he  took  up  the  letter  Godby  had  brought 
and  breaking  the  seal,  read  it  through  once,  with  a  glim- 
mer of  his  grim  smile,  read  it  again  and  frowned  and, 
fro^\^ling,  glanced  across  at  me. 

"  Here 's  matter  concerning  you,  Martin,  hark  'ee ! " 
And  he  read  this : 


I02     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

To  Master  Adam  Penfeather: 

Should  you  chance  upon  the  poore  man  that  suflFered  lately 
in  the  pillory  (by  no  order  or  will  of  mine)  you  will  I  charge 
you  do  all  you  may  to  succour  him  in  any  manner  soever:  This 
letter  I  do  write  in  much  haste  to  instruct  you  that  I  purpose 
to  sail  in  the  Faithfull  Friend  along  with  you  and  my  good 
cuzen  Sir  Rupert  in  this  quest  for  my  father.  Moreover,  I 
will  you  should  sail  as  speedily  soon  as  may  be. 

As  regard eth  the  poore  young  man  afore  mentioned,  if  he 
be  quite  destitute  as  I  do  think  him  and  will  take  no  money 
as  I  do  judge  most  like,  then  Master  Adam  you  shall  offer  to 
him  such  employ  in  my  ship  the  Faithfull  Friend  as  he  will 
accept. 

And  this  is  my  wish  and  command 

Joan  Brandon'. 

He  is  great  and  tall  and  fierce  with  yellow  hair  and  cruell 
mouth,  yet  seemeth  more  cruell  than  he  trulie  is. 

"  So  there  are  you  to  a  hair,  Martin,  and  here  's  our 
enterprise  brought  to  nought  if  she  sail  on  this  venture ! " 

"Why,  then,  she  mustn't  sail!" 

"  'T  is  her  ship,  Martin,  and  she 's  a  Brandon !  " 

"  Then  sail  without  her." 

*'  And  be  taken  before  we  're  clear  o'  the  Downs  and 
strung  up  at  Execution  Dock  for  piracy." 

"  Why,  then,  if  she  goeth  aboard  I  don't ! " 

"  And  wherefore  not,  Martin?  " 

**  I  '11  take  no  serv'ice  with  a  Brandon  !  " 

"Aye,  verily,  there's  your  pride,  Martin,  which  is 
cumbersome  cargo." 

"  Call  it  what  je  will,  I  '11  not  sail." 

"And  your  oath,  comrade.''  Sail  along  o'  me  you  must 
and  shall!  But  having  respect  for  your  high-stomached 
pride  you  shall  stow  away  in  some  hole  or  comer,  and  she 
never  know  you  're  aboard." 

Hereupon  I  scowled,  but  perceiving  him  so  serene, 
albeit  a  little  grim,  I  said  no  more,  and  he  fell  to  pacing 
slowly  back  and  forth,  head  bowed  and  hands  locked 
behind  him. 


Telleth  of  a  Fight  in  the  Dark    103 

"  I  need  you,  Martin,"  said  he  at  last,  "  aye,  I  need 
you  even  more  than  I  thought,  the  one  man  I  may  trust 
to  in  a  pinch.  For,  Martin,  here  's  that  I  don't  under- 
stand." 

So  saying,  he  halted  by  the  table  and  presently  taking 
up  the  dagger  (and  with  a  strange  reluctance)  fell  to 
twisting  it  this  way  and  that;  finally  he  gave  a  sudden 
twist,  and  the  smiling  head  of  the  silver  woman,  coming 
away,  shewed  a  hollow  cavity  running  the  length  of  the 
haft,  roomy  and  cunningly  contrived.  Slowly  he  fitted 
the  head  into  place  again  and,  laying  the  weapon  down, 
shook  his  head. 

"  Here 's  Bartlemy's  dagger,  true  enough,  Martin," 
said  he,  touching  its  keen  point.  "  Here 's  what  found 
Bartlemy's  black  heart  —  aye,  and  many  another!  Here's 
what  went  hurtling  over  the  cliif  in  Tressady's  fist  —  and 
yet  here  it  lies  —  which  is  great  matter  for  wonder,  Martin. 
And,  since  'tis  here  —  why,  then  —  where  is  the  vile  rogue 
Tressady?  Which  is  matter  for  painful  speculation, 
Martin  —  where  ?  " 

"  Snoring,  likely  enough !  "  answered  I,  "  Not  so  far 
hence,  or  tramping  hither." 

"  If  so,  Martin,  then  Death  cannot  touch  him,  the 
which  is  out  of  all  reason  !  " 

"  'T  is  more  like  the  fall  did  not  kill  him,  Adam." 

"  Had  you  but  seen  the  place,  shipmate !  But  if  water 
won't  drown  him  and  steel  won't  harm  him  — " 

"Like  you,  he  wears  a  chain  shirt,  Adam;  that  I  do 
know.  Moreover,  the  devil  cherisheth  his  own,  I  've 
heard." 

"  Why,  here 's  reason,  Martin,  plain  reason,  I  grant, 
and  yet  —  but 't  is  late  and  you  '11  be  for  sleep,  and  there 's 
reason  in  that  too.     Come,  I'll  shew  your  bed  —  " 

"Spare  yourself  —  I  want  no  bed,"  said  I  bitterly. 
"  'T  were  a  luxury  wasted  on  the  likes  o'  me.  My  couch 
shall  be  the  corner  yonder." 

*'  Ah,  prideful  youth !  'T  is  sweet  to  be  young, 
Martin ! "  said  Penfeather  with  his  sudden,  whimsical  half- 


I04     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

smile  and  clapping  his  hand  on  my  shoulder.  "  Sleep 
where  ye  will,  that  comer  is  as  good  as  another.  See, 
there  stands  my  tuck,  a  Spanish  blade  of  notable  good 
temper;  it  hath  been  a  true  friend  to  me  many  a  time  ere 
now  and  should  be  a  trusty  bedfellow.  As  for  me,  I  'm 
for  a  feather  bed.  And,  Martin,"  adds  he,  pausing  to 
pinch  his  chin  and  view  me  sideways,  "  if  aught  should 
chance  to  me — at  any  time  —  the  chart  and  treasure  will 
be  yours.  So  good  night,  comrade,  and  sleep  sound,  for 
't  is  like  we  shall  wake  betimes." 

Saying  which  he  turned,  slow  and  thoughtful,  and  went 
out,  closing  the  door  softly  behind  him.  As  for  me, 
being  very  drowsy,  I  wrapped  myself  in  my  weatherworn 
cloak,  blew  out  the  candles  and,  lying  down  in  the  corner, 
was  presently  fast  asleep. 

Now  as  I  slept  I  dreamed  that  Pen  feather's  long  rapier, 
standing  in  the  dark  comer  close  by,  was  stealthily  en- 
deavouring to  free  itself  from  its  leathern  scabbard  with 
intent  to  skewer  me  to  the  floor  as  I  lay;  and,  striving 
thus  to  draw  itself,  made  soft,  strange  noises  and  rus- 
tlings, insomuch  that  I  presently  woke  and,  staring  motion- 
less into  the  darkness  above,  knew  that  these  sounds  were 
real.  Somewhere  close  by  was  a  whisper  of  sound  that 
came  and  went,  a  soft-drawn,  furtive  breath,  a  scraping 
of  fingers  on  the  panelling  above  me  in  the  darkness ;  and 
in  that  moment  also  I  became  aware  that  the  lattice 
yawned  wide  upon  a  square  of  glimmering  blackness. 
Suddenly  a  sly-creeping  foot  touched  me  unseen  and  then 
even  as  the  owner  of  this  foot  tripped  over  me  came  the 
roaring  flash  of  a  pistol  hard  by,  followed  immediately 
by  another  and,  as  I  lay  deafened  and  half  dazed,  the 
floor  quivered  to  the  soft,  vicious  thud  of  leaping,  swift- 
trampling  feet,  and  on  the  air  was  a  confused  scuffling, 
mingled  with  an  awful,  beast-like,  worrying  sound.  And 
now  (though  I  was  broad  awake,  and  tingling  for  action) 
I  constrained  myself  to  lie  still,  nothing  stirjing,  for 
here  (as  I  judged)  was  desperate  knife-play;  indeed  more 
than  once  I  heard  the  faint  clink  of  steel.     And  now  rose 


Telleth  of  a  Fight  in  the  Dark    105 

shouts  and  cries  and  a  tramp  of  feet  on  the  stair  without. 
Some  one  reeled  staggering  across  the  room,  came  a  scrab- 
bling at  the  open  casement  and,  as  I  leapt  up,  the  door 
burst  open  and  Joel  Bym  appeared,  flourishing  a  naked 
hanger  and  with  Godby  behind  bearing  a  lanthorn  whose 
flickering  light  showed  Adam,  knife  in  hand,  where  he 
leaned  panting  against  the  wall,  a  smear  of  blood  across 
his  pallid  face  and  with  shirt  and  doublet  torn  in  horrid 
fashion. 

"  The  window !  "  he  gasped.  "  Shutters  !  'Ware  bul- 
lets ! "  I  sprang  forward,  but  Joel  was  before  me  and, 
crouching  beneath  the  open  lattice,  swung  the  heavy 
shutters  into  position,  but  even  as  he  did  so,  a  bullet 
crashed  through  the  stout  oak. 

"Doors  all  fast,  Joel?" 

"Aye,  Cap'n!  But  who's  here  —  is 't  the  preventive.'' 
And  me  wi'  the  cellars  choke-full.  My  cock !  Is 't  the 
customs,  Cap'n?" 

"  Worse,  Joel ! "  said  Penfeather,  wiping  sweat  from 
him. 

"Art  hurt,  Adam?"  I  questioned,  eyeing  his  wild 
figure;  and  now  I  saw  that  the  thin,  steel  chain  was  gone 
from  his  sinewy  throat. 

"No,  shipmate.  But  the  dagger,  look  ye  —  'tis  clean 
disappeared,  Martin." 

"And  good  riddance,"  quoth  I.  "But  Adam  —  what 
o'  your  chart  —  gone  along  o'  the  dagger,  has  it  ?  " 

"  Tush,  man  ! "  said  he,  sheathing  his  knife.  "  'T  is 
snug  in  that  wallet  o'  yours." 

*'  My  wallet ! "  I  cried,  clapping  hand  on  it  where  it 
hung  at  my  girdle. 

*'Aye,  shipmate.  I  slipped  it  there  as  I  bid  ye  good 
night !  But  Martin  —  oh,  Martin,  the  dead  is  alive  again 
—  see  how  I  'm  all  gashed  with  his  hook." 

"Hook?"  quoth  Joel,  shooting  great,  hairy  head  for- 
ward.    "Did  ye — say  a  —  hook,  Cap'n?" 

"Aye,  Joel  —  Tressady's  alive  again." 

"  God  love  us  ! "  gasped  the  giant  and  sank  into  a  chair. 


CHAPTER    XII 
We  Set  Out  for  Deptfoed  Pool 

Penfeather  drew  clenched  hand  across  his  brow  and, 
coming  to  the  table,  reached  the  half-emptied  flagon  and 
drank  what  remained  of  the  wine  thirstily,  while  Bym,  his 
great  body  huddled  in  the  chair,  stared  at  the  bullet  hole 
in  the  shutter  with  starting  eyes.  As  to  me,  I  picked  up 
Penfeather's  fallen  pistols  and  laid  them  on  the  table, 
where  Godby  had  set  the  lanthorn. 

"  Tressady !  "  Bym  said  at  last  in  a  hoarse  whisper, 
"Tressady!     Oh,  Cap'n,  be  ye  sarten  sure?" 

"Sure!"  said  Penfeather,  in  the  same  hushed  manner 
and  reaching  powder  and  bullets  from  a  cupboard  he  be- 
gan methodically  to  reload  his  pistols.  "  He  '11  be  out- 
side now  where  the  shadows  be  thickest,  waiting  me  with 
Abnegation  and  Sol  and  Rory  and  God  knoweth  how 
many  more." 

"Then  he  aren't  dead,  Cap'n.'"'  Penfeather's  black 
brows  flickered  and  his  keen  eyes  glanced  from  his  rent 
doublet  round  about  the  room. 

"Howbeit  —  he  was  here,  Joel!"   said  he. 

"Why,  then,  Cap'n,  the  dying  woman's  curse  holds, 
and  he  can't  die.''"  and  Bym  clawed  at  his  great  beard. 

"  He  was  here,  Joel,  in  this  room,"  said  Penfeather, 
busy  with  powderhorn,  "  man  to  man,  knife  to  knife  — 
and  I  missed  him.  Since  midnight  I  've  waited  wi'  pistols 
cocked  and  never  closed  eye  —  and  yet  here  was  he  or 
ever  I  was  aware;  for,  as  I  sat  there  i'  the  dark  by  the 
window  above  the  porch,  which  is  therefore  easiest  to  come 
at,  I  spied  Mings  and  him  staring  up  at  the  lattice  of  this 
chamber.     So  here  crept  I  and,  opening  door,  saw  him 


We  Set  Out  for  Deptford  Pool    107 

move  against  the  open  lattice  yonder  —  a  shot  no  man 
could  miss." 

"Aye,  Cap'n  — aye?" 

"And  I  —  missed  him,  Joel  —  with  both  weapons  and 
I  within  three  yards  of  him;  aye,  I  missed  him  with  both 
pistols." 

"  Which  is  small  wonder,"  said  I,  "  for  as  you  fired  he 
tripped  over  me,  Adam  —  " 

"And  why  should  he  trip  just  then  —  at  the  one  and 
only  moment,  Martin?  Chance,  says  you?  Why,  when 
he  came  leaping  on  me  in  the  black  dark,  should  his  hook 
meet  and  turn  my  knife  from  his  throat?  Chance  again, 
says  you?  Why,  when  he  flung  me  off  and  made  for  the 
window  —  why  must  I  catch  my  foot  'gainst  that  staff  o' 
yours  and  bring  up  against  the  wall  with  all  the  strength 
and  breath  knocked  out  o'  me  and  no  chance  for  one 
thrust  as  he  clambered  through  the  lattice?  By  the 
Lord,  Martin,  here  's  more  than  chance,  says  I." 

"  Aye,  by  cock ! "  muttered  Joel,  shaking  his  head, 
"'tis  'witched  he  be!  You'll  mind  what  I  told  ye, 
Cap'n  —  the  poor  lady  as  died  raving  mad  aboard  the 
Delight  —  how  she  died  cursing  him  wi'  life.  And  him 
standing  by  a-polishing  o'  that  hook  o'  his  —  ah,  Cap'n, 
I  '11  never  forget  the  work  o'  that  same  hook  .  .  .  many 's 
the  time  .  .  .  Bartlemy's  prisoners  .  .  .  men  and  women 
.  .  .  aboard  that  cursed  Ladies^  Delight!  By  cock,  I 
dream  on  't  sometimes  and  wake  all  of  a  sweat  — " 

"  Here 's  no  time  for  dreams  !  "  said  Penfeather,  ram- 
ming home  the  charge  of  his  second  pistol.  "  Is  the  pas- 
sage clear  ?  " 

"Save  for  the  matter  of  a  few  kegs,  Cap'n,  but  'twill 
serve  —  " 

"  We  start  in  half  an  hour,  Joel." 

"The  three  o'  you,  Cap'n?" 

"  Aye,  we  must  be  aboard  as  soon  as  maybe  now." 

"  Captain,"  said  Godby,  "  speaking  as  a  master  gun- 
ner, a  mariner  and  a  peddler,  I  'm  bold  to  say  as  there 's 
nought  like  bite  and  sup  to  hasten  a  man  for  a  journey 


io8      Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

or  aught  beside  —  flog  me  else !  And  there 's  nought 
more  heartening  than  ham  or  neat's  tongue,  or  brisket  o' 
beef,  the  which  I  chanced  to  spy  i'  the  kitchen  —  " 

"  Why,  then,  master  gunner,"  said  Penfeather,  "  go 
you  and  engage  those  same  in  close  action,  and  I  '11  join 
ye  as  soon  as  I  've  shifted  these  rags  o'  mine." 

"Adam,"  said  I,  unstrapping  my  wallet  as  Bym  and 
Godby  descended  the  stair,  "  if  we  are  to  have  our  throats 
cut  to-night,  'twere  as  well  I  handed  back  your  chart 
first ; "  and  I  laid  it  on  the  table. 

"Why,  'tis  as  safe  with  you,  comrade  —  but  as  you 
will ! "  and  he  slipped  the  chain  about  his  neck.  "  As  for 
any  throat-slitting,  Martin,  you'll  find  that  with  danger 
my  inborn  caution  groweth  to  timidity  —  " 

"  Ha,  yes ! "  I  nodded.  "  Such  timidity  as  walks  under 
the  very  noses  of  desperate,  well-armed  rogues  of  a  moon- 
light night." 

"  Why,  the  moon  is  down  —  or  nearly  so,  Martin.  And 
then,  besides,  this  trim  little  inn  hath  divers  exits  dis- 
creetly nonapparent.  'Twas  a  monastery  once,  I've 
heard." 

"  And  now  a  smuggling  ken  it  seems,  Adam." 

"  Even  so,  comrade,  and  no  place  better  suited !  And 
there's  the  Bo's'n  hailing!"  said  he,  as  a  hoarse  roar  of 
*'Supper  O!"  reached  us.  "Go  down,  Martin  ;  I  stay  but  to 
make  things  shipshape ! "  and  he  nodded  toward  the  books 
and  papers  that  littered  the  table.  Upon  the  stairs  I  met 
Godby  who  brought  me  to  a  kitchen,  very  spacious  and 
lofty,  paved  with  great  flagstones  and  with  groined  arches 
supporting  the  roof,  and  what  with  this  and  the  wide  fire- 
place flanked  with  fluted  columns  and  enriched  by  carv- 
ings, I  did  not  doubt  but  that  here  had  once  stood  a  noble 
abbey  or  the  like. 

"Pal,"  said  Godby,  as  I  stared  about  me,  "you'd 
never  guess  as  there  be  nigh  three  hundred  kegs  stowed 
hereabouts,  besides  bales  and  the  like,  choke  me  else !  Ha, 
manj-^'s  the  good  cargo  I've  helped  Jo  and  the  lads  to 
run  —  eh,  Joel  ?  " 


We  Set  Out  for  Deptford  Pool    109 

"  So  you  're  a  smuggler,  Godby." 

"  Cock,*'  said  Bym  reproachfully,  and  setting  a  goodly 
cheese  on  the  table  with  a  bang,  "  say  free-trader,  cock  — 
t'  other  'un  's  a  cackling  word,  and  I  don't  like  cackle  —  " 

"  Aye,"  nodded  Godby,  "  that 's  the  word,  *free- 
trader,'  Mart'n;  so  I  am  and  what  then?  'Twas  summat 
o'  the  sort  as  got  me  suspicioned  by  Gregory  and  his 
catchpolls,  rot  'm."  But  here  Adam  entered,  very  soberly 
dressed  in  sad-coloured  clothes,  and  we  sat  down  to  sup 
forthwith. 

"Do  we  sail  soon.  Captain?"  questioned  Godby  in  a 
while. 

"I  hope  to  be  clear  o'  the  Downs  a  few  days  hence," 
said  Adam. 

"  And  you  so  short-handed,  Cap'n,"  quoth  Byra. 

"  Sir  Rupert  hath  'listed  thirty  new  men,  I  hear,  and 
rogues  every  one,  I  '11  be  sworn." 

"Sir  Rupert—?"   said  I. 

"  My  lady's  cousin,  Martin,  and  captain  of  the  expe- 
dition." 

"Is  he  a  sailor,  Adam?" 

"  No,  Martin ;  like  most  o'  your  fine  gentlemen-adven- 
turers, he  knows  no  more  of  navigation  than  this  cheese, 
which  is  just  as  well,  Martin,  aye,  mighty  well!" 

"How  so?" 

"  Who  shall  say,  Martin,  who  shall  say  ?  "  And  here  he 
took  a  long  draught  of  ale.  In  a  while,  our  meal  being 
ended,  Penfeather  rose. 

"  As  to  arms,  Martin,  ha'  ye'  aught  beside  your  knife?  " 

"  My  staff  and  this  pistol,"  answered  I,  taking  out  the 
silver-mounted  weapon  my  Lady  Brandon  had  thrust 
upon  me. 

"  Is  't  loaded,  Martin?  "  I  examined  charge  and  priming 
and  nodded.  "  Good !  "  said  Adam.  "  Here 's  five  shot 
betwixt  us ;  that  should  suffice.  Up  wi'  the  trap,  Jo,  and 
we  '11  out."  Hereupon  Bym  lighted  his  lanthom  and, 
putting  aside  the  great  settle  by  the  hearth,  stooped 
and  raised  one  of  the  flagstones,  discovering  a  flight  of 


iio      Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

worn,  stone  steps,  down  which  we  followed  him  and  so 
into  a  gi'eat  cellar  or  vaulted  crypt  where  stood  row  upon 
row  of  barrels  and  casks,  piled  very  orderly  to  the  stone 
roof.  Along  the  narrow  way  between  strode  Bym  and, 
halting  suddenly,  stooped  and  lifted  another  flagstone 
with  more  steps  below,  down  which  we  followed  him  into  a 
passageway  fairly  paved  whence  divers  other  passages 
opened  right  and  left.  And  when  we  had  gone  some  dis- 
tance, Adam  halted. 

"  Best  bring  the  lighr  no  further,  Jo.  And  hark  'ee, 
Joel,  as  to  this  black  rogue  —  this  —  y'know  who  I  mean, 
Jo?" 

"Aye  — him,  Cap'n!" 

"  That  same,  Jo.  Well,  keep  an  eye  lifting,  and  if  you 
find  out  aught  worth  the  telling,  let  one  o'  your  lads  ride 
post  to  Deptford,  Jo." 

"Aye,  Cap'n.     Aboard  ship. ^^  " 

"Aboard  ship." 

"Cap'n,"  quoth  he,  grasping  Adam's  hand,  "I'm 
man  o'  few  words,  an'  thanks  t'  3^ou  I  'm  snug  enough  here 
wi'  my  wife  and  darter  as  is  away  till  this  cargo  's  run, 
but  say  tlie  word,  and  I  '11  sail  along  o'  you,  come  battle, 
murder  or  shipwreck  —  " 

*'0r  a  hook,  Joel.'"'  asked  Penfeather  softly,  whereat 
Joel  clawed  at  his  beard  and  blinked  into  the  lanthom; 
finally  he  gave  a  great  tug  to  his  beard  and  nodded. 

"  Aye,  Cap'n,"  said  he,  "  for  you  —  even  that,  by 
cock ! " 

*'  Good  lad,"  said  Penfeather,  clapping  him  on  brawny 
shoulder.  "Bide  where  you  are,  Jo,  and  Fortune  with, 
you  and  yours.     This  way,  Martin." 

So  having  taken  our  leave  of  B^^m,  Godby  and  I  fol- 
lowed Adam  along  the  passage,  guided  by  the  Bo's'n's  lan- 
thom until,  turning  a  sudden,  sharp  corner,  we  plunged 
into  pitchy  gloom,  wherein  I  groped  my  way  until  Pen- 
feather's  voice  stayed  me. 

"  Easy  all !  "  said  he  softly.  "  Have  your  pistols  ready 
and  heed  how  you  come."     Creeping  cautiously  I  found 


We  Set  Out  for  Deptford  Pool 


III 


myself  amid  leaves  that  yielded  before  me  and,  stepping 
through  this  natural  screen,  I  stumbled  into  a  bush  and 
presently  found  myself  standing  in  a  small  copse  dim- 
lighted  by  a  waning  moon;  and  never  a  sound  to  be 
heard  save  the  soft  whisper  of  leaves  about  us  and  the 
faint,  far  cry  of  some  night  bird. 

"  Ha ! "  said  Adam  at  last,  gazing  away  to  the  sink- 
ing moon.  "  So  our  journey  begins,  and  from  the  look  o' 
things,  Martin,  from  the  look  o'  things,  here's  going  to 
be  need  of  all  your  resolution  and  all  my  caution  ere  we 
can  see  the  end.     Come ! " 


CHAPTER   XIII 

How  I  Came  Aboard  the  Faithfvll  Friend 

We  followed  a  roundabout  course,  now  across  broad 
meadows,  now  treading  green  cart  tracks,  now  climbing 
some  grassy  upland,  anon  plunging  into  the  shadow  of 
lonely  wood  or  coppice  until  the  moon  was  down,  until 
was  a  glimmer  of  dawn  with  low-lying  mists  brimming 
every  grassy  hollow  and  creeping  phantom-like  in  leafy 
boskages ;  until  in  the  east  was  a  glory,  warming  the  grey 
mist  to  pink  and  amber  and  gold,  and  the  sun,  uprising, 
darted  his  level  beams  athwart  our  way  and  it  was  day. 

And  now  from  coppice  and  hedgerow,  near  and  far,  was 
stir  and  flutter,  a  whistling  and  a  piping  that  rose  ever 
louder  and  swelled  to  a  thrilling  ecstasy  of  gladness. 

"Hark  to  'em.  Oh,  pal,  hark  to  'em!"  quoth  Godby, 
lifting  head  to  watch  a  lark  that  soared  aloft.  "  Here  's 
music,  Mart'n,  here's  cure  for  the  megrims,  hope  for  the 
downcast  and  promise  o'  joys  to  come.    Oh,  hark  to  'em  ! " 

All  the  day  Penfeather  led  us  on  by  lonely  ways,  never 
seeming  to  weary  and  never  at  a  loss,  silent  for  the  most 
part  as  one  in  profound  thought,  and  I  speaking  little  as 
is  my  wont,  but  Godby  talked  and  sang  and  laughed  for 
the  three  of  us. 

It  was  as  we  sat  outside  a  little  alehouse  snugged  'mid 
trees,  eating  of  bread  and  cheese,  that  Penfeather  turned 
suddenly  and  gripped  my  arm. 

"  Martin,"  said  he,  "  't  will  be  plaguy  business  carry- 
ing women  aboard  ship  —  along  o'  these  lambs  o'  mine  — 
there's  scarce  a  rogue  but  cheats  the  gallows  with  his 
every  breath ! " 

**  Why,  then,  teU  her  so,  Adam,  plain  and  to  the  point." 


Aboard  the  Faithfull  Friend    113 

"  'T  would  be  vain  breath,  Martin,  I  know  her  too 
well  —  and  she  is  a  Brandon!" 

"  A  curse  on  the  name ! "  said  I,  whereupon  Godby 
choked  into  his  ale,  stared  in  surprise  and  would  fain  have 
questioned  me,  but,  meeting  my  eye,  spake  no  word. 

"  D'  ye  know  aught  of  navigation,  Martin?"  asked 
Adam  suddenly. 

"  No  whit,  Adam,  but  I  '11  handle  a  boat  with  any  man." 

**  Ha ! "  said  he,  and  sat  there  pinching  his  chin  until, 
our  hunger  being  appeased  and  the  ale  all  drank,  we  fared 
on  again.  So  we  tramped  it  and  though  our  road  was 
long,  I  will  here  make  short  work  of  it  and  say  that  at  last 
we  came,  very  hot  and  dusty,  into  the  village  of  Lewisham 
where  we  would  fain  have  baited  awhile  at  the  "Lion  and 
Lamb ",  a  fair  inn ;  but  this  Adam  would  by  no  means 
permit,  so,  leaving  the  village,  we  presently  turned  aside 
from  the  main  road  into  a  lane  very  pleasantly  shaded  by 
tall  trees  and  bloomy  hedgerows,  the  which  (as  I  do  think) 
is  called  Mill  Lane.  In  a  while  we  reached  a  narrow 
track  down  which  Adam  turned,  and  now  as  we  went  I  was 
aware  of  strange  sounds,  a  confused  hubbub  growing  ever 
louder  until,  deep  amid  the  green,  we  espied  a  lonely 
tavern  before  which  stood  a  short,  stout  man  who  alter- 
nately wrung  his  hands  in  lamentation,  mopped  at  bloody 
pate  and  stamped  and  swore  mighty  vehement,  in  the  midst 
of  which,  chancing  to  behold  Penfeather,  he  uttered  joy- 
ful shout  and  came  running. 

"  Master  Penfeather,"  cried  he,  "  oh.  Master  Pen- 
feather,  here 's  fine  doings,  love  my  eyes !  Here 's  your 
rogues  a-fighting  and  a-murdering  of  each  other,  which  is 
no  great  matter,  but  here 's  them  a-wrecking  o'  my  house, 
which  is  great  matter ;  here 's  them  has  broke  my  head  wi' 
one  o'  my  own  pottle-pots  which  is  greater  matter ;  here  's 
me  dursen't  set  foot  i'  the  place,  and  my  wife  and  maids 
all  of  a  swound  —  oh,  Master  Penfeather,  here  's  doings, 
love  my  limbs  !  " 

"  Ha ! "  said  Penfeather.  "  Fighting,  are  they,  Jerry?  " 

**Like  devils,  Captain,  your  rogues  and  the  rogues  as 


114     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

my  Lord  Dering  'listed  and  brought  here  yesterday  — 
oh,  love  my  liver  —  look  at  yon!"  As  he  spoke  came  a 
crash  of  splintered  glass  and  a  broken  chair  hurtled 
through  the  wide  lattice. 

"  So ! "  said  Adam,  striding  towards  the  inn,  and  I  saw 
a  pistol  in  his  hand.  Following  hard  on  his  heels  I  en- 
tered the  inn  with  him  and  so  to  the  scene  of  the  riot. 

A  long,  low  room,  full  of  swirling  dust,  and  amid  this 
choking  cloud  a  huddle  of  men  who  fought  and  struggled 
fiercely,  roaring  blasphemy  and  curses.  Two  or  three  lay 
twisted  among  overturned  chairs  and  tables ;  others  had 
crawled  into  comers  to  look  to  their  hurts,  while  to  and 
fro  the  battle  raged  the  fiercer.  Leaning  in  the  doorway, 
Penfeather  surveyed  the  combatants  with  his  quick  keen 
glance,  and  then  the  hubbub  was  drowned  by  the  roar  of 
his  long  pistol;  the  thunderous  report  seemed  to  stun  the 
combatants  to  silence,  who,  falling  apart,  turned  one  and 
all  to  glare  at  the  intruder.  And  in  this  moment  of  com- 
parative silence,  while  all  men  panted  and  stared,  from 
Penfeather's  grim  lips  there  burst  a  string  of  blistering 
sea-oaths  such  as  even  I  had  scarce  heard  till  now.  For 
a  long  minute  he  reviled  them,  the  smoke  curling  from  his 
pistol,  his  black  brows  knit  across  glittering  eyes,  his  thin 
nostrils  a-quiver,  the  scar  glowing  on  his  pallid  cheek,  his 
face  indeed  so  changed  and  evil  that  I  scarce  knew  him. 

"...  ye  filthy  scum,  ye  lousy  sons  o'  dogs  !  "  he  ended. 
"  Ha,  will  ye  fight  agin  my  orders,  then  —  mutiny,  is  it."* " 

"  And  who  a  plague  are  you  and  be  cursed  to  ye  ? " 
panted  a  great  fellow,  flourishing  a  broken  chair  leg  threat- 
eningly and  scowling  in  murderous  fashion. 

"  He  '11  tell  ye,  there  behind  ye,  fool ! "  snarled  Pen- 
feather,  pointing  sinewy  finger.  The  big  man  turned, 
Penfeather  sprang  with  uplifted  pistol  and  smote  him, 
stunned  and  bleeding,  to  the  floor,  then  bestriding  the 
prostrate  carcass,  fronted  the  rest  with  head  viciously 
outthrust. 

"And  who's  next  —  come!"  said  he  softly,  scowling 
from    one   to   other   of  the   shrinking   company.      "You 


Aboard  the  Faithfull  Friend    115 

Amos  Penarth,  and  you,  Richard  Farnaby,  aye  and  half 
a  dozen  others  o'  ye ;  you  've  sailed  wi'  me  ere  now  and  you 
know  when  I  say  a  thing  I  mean  it.  And  you  'd  fight, 
would  ye,  my  last  words  to  you  being,  '  see  to  it  there  be 
no  quarrelling  or  riot.' " 

"  Why,  Cap'n,"  answered  one,  "  't  is  all  along  o'  these 
new  'listed  rogues  —  " 

"  Aye,  master,"  said  another,  "  and  that 's  gospel-true ; 
theer  aren't  a  right  sailorman  among  'em  —  " 

"  Then  we  '11  learn  'em  to  be ! "  replied  Penfeather. 
"  Stand  forward  —  the  new  men  —  show  a  leg  and  bustle, 
ye  dogs ! "  Scowling  and  muttering,  some  twelve  unlovely 
fellows  obeyed.  "  I'  faith ! "  said  Penfeather,  looking  them 
over,  "  here 's  fine  stuff  for  the  gallows !  And  where 's 
the  rest  of  'em?  " 

"  Gone  aboard  this  morning  along  o'  Toby  Hudd,  the 
bo's'n!" 

"  See  here,  my  bright  lads,"  quoth  Penfeather,  eyeing 
each  scowling  face  in  turn,  "learn  this:  when  you  come 
aboard  my  ship  and  I  say  to  one  o'  ye  do  this  or  do  that, 
he  does  it,  d'ye  see  or  —  up  to  the  yardarm  he  SAvings  by 
liis  thumbs  or  his  neck,  as  occasion  warrants  —  d'ye  get 
me,  my  bully  roarers  ?  " 

Not  a  man  of  them  spake  a  word,  but  all  stood  shifting 
uneasily  beneath  Penfeather's  quick,  bright  eye,  shuffling 
their  feet  and  casting  furtive  glances  on  their  fellows. 

*'Now  as  to  this  lump  o'  roguery,"  and  Penfeather 
spumed  the  still  unconscious  man  with  his  foot,  "  have  him 
into  the  yard  and  heave  a  bucket  o'  water  over  him.  As 
to  you,  Farnaby,  muster  the  hands,  and  stand  by  to  go 
aboard  in  half  an  hour  —  every  unhung  rascal." 

Without  we  came  on  the  misfortunate  landlord,  still  in 
the  deeps  of  gloom,  but  upon  Adam's  assurance  that  all 
damages  should  be  made  good,  he  brought  us  up  a  pair  of 
stairs  to  a  fair  chamber  and  there  served  us  a  most  excel- 
lent meal. 

Scarce  had  we  risen  from  table  than  came  the  man 
Penarth  a-knocking,  cap  in  hand,  to  say  the  men  stood 


1 1 6     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

ready  to  go  aboard.  We  found  some  score  fellows  drawn 
up  before  the  inn,  and  a  desperate  lot  of  cutthroats  they 
looked,  what  with  their  hurts  and  general  hang-dog  air, 
as  they  stood  there  in  the  light  of  a  rising  moon.  Having 
looked  them  over  each  and  every,  Penfeather  spat,  and 
setting  them  in  Godby's  charge,  ordered  them  to  go  on 
before. 

"  Well,  Martin,"  said  he,  as  we  followed  together,  "  and 
how  think  ye  of  my  lambs  ?  " 

"Call  them  raging  tigers,  rather  —  " 

**  Nay,  tigers  be  cleanly  creatures,  I  've  heard." 

*'  A  God's  name,  Adam,  why  truck  with  such  ill  rogues  ? 
Sure  there  be  many  honest  mariners  to  be  had?" 

"  Why,  as  to  that,  Martin,  good  men  be  scarce  and  ever 
hard  to  come  by;  moreover  these  scum  are  a  means  to  an 
end,  d'  ye  see  ?  " 

"How  so.?" 

**  Just  that,  Martin,"  said  he,  glancing  at  me  in  his 
furtive  manner,  "  a  means  to  an  end." 

"What  end.?" 

"  Ah,  who  may  tell,  Martin  ?  "  he  sighed,  shaking  his 
head.  Now  when  I  would  have  questioned  him  further  he 
put  me  off  thus  with  side  answers,  until  we  were  come  to 
the  waterside,  which  is  called  Deptford  Creek.  Here, 
having  seen  the  others  safe  embarked,  we  took  boat  also 
and  were  soon  rowing  between  the  huge  bulks  of  ships 
where  dim  lights  burned  and  whence  came,  ever  and  anon, 
the  sound  of  voices,  the  rattle  of  a  hawser,  a  snatch  of 
song  and  the  like,  as  we  paddled  betwixt  the  vast  hulls. 
Presently  we  were  beneath  the  towering  stem  of  a  great 
ship  and,  glancing  up  at  this  lofty  structure,  brave  with 
carved  work  and  gilding,  I  read  the  name, 

THE    FAITHFULL  FRIEND. 

At  a  word  from  Adam  the  oars  were  unshipped  and  we 
glided  alongside  her  high-curving  side  where  hung  a  lad- 
der, up  which  I  followed  Adam  forthwith.  She  was  a 
great  ship  (as  I  say)   of  some  two  hundred  tons  at  the 


Aboard  the  Faithfull  Friend    117 

least,  with  high  forecastle  and  lofty  stern,  though  I  saw- 
little  else,  ere,  at  a  sign  from  Adam,  I  followed  him  down 
the  after-gangway  where,  taking  a  flickering  lanthorn  that 
hung  from  a  deck  beam,  he  led  me  'twixt  a  clutter  of  stores 
not  yet  stowed,  past  the  grim  shapes  of  great  ordnance, 
and  so  down  and  down  to  a  noisome  place  beneath  the 
orlop. 

"  'T  is  not  oversweet,  Martin,"  said  he,  "  but  then  bilge 
water  never  is,  you  '11  mind.  But  you  '11  grow  used  to 
it  in  time,  shipmate,  unless,  instead  o'  swallowing  this 
unholy  reek,  you  '11  swallow  your  pride  and  list  as  master's 
mate  —  " 

"  I  've  no  knowledge  of  navigation." 

*'  But  I  've  enough  for  the  two  of  us,  Martin ;  't  is  a 
comrade  at  my  back  I  need.     What 's  the  word }  " 

"  No  ! "   replied  I,  mighty  short. 

"  As  you  will,  shipmate,"  he  sighed,  "  as  you  will,  pride 
and  bilge  water  go  well  together ! "  Which  said,  he 
brought  me  to  a  dark  unlovely  hole  abaft  the  mizzen. 
"  'T  is  none  too  clean,  Martin,"  said  he,  casting  the  light 
round  the  dingy  place,  "but  that  shall  be  remedied  and 
Godby  shall  bring  ye  bedding  and  the  like,  so  although 't  is 
plaguy  dark  and  wi'  rats  a-plenty  still,  despite  the  stench 
you  '11  lie  snug  as  your  pride  will  permit  of.  As  for  me, 
shipmate,  I  shall  scarce  close  an  eye  till  we  be  clear  o'  the 
Downs,  so  't  is  a  care-full  man  I  shall  be  this  next  two 
days,  heigho !  So  good  night,  Martin ;  I  '11  send  Godby 
below  with  all  you  lack." 

Saying  which,  Penfeather  turned  and,  groping  his  way 
into  the  darkness,  left  me  scowling  at  the  flickering  lan- 
thorn. 

And  now  within  my  gloomy  hiding  place,  dim-lit  by 
flickering  lanthorn,  I  passed  many  weary  hours,  while  all 
about  me  was  a  stir  and  bustle,  a  confused  sound  made  up 
of  many,  as  the  never-ending  tread  of  feet,  the  sound  of 
hoarse  voices  now  faint  and  far  and  anon  clear  and  loud, 
the  scrape  of  a  fiddle,  snatches  of  rough  song,  the  cease- 
less ring  and  tap  of  hammers,  —  a  very  babel  that,  telling 


ii8      Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

of  life  and  action,  made  my  gloomy  prison  the  harder  to 
endure.  And  here  (mindful  of  what  is  to  follow)  I  do 
think  it  well  to  describe  in  few  words  the  place  wherein  I 
lay.  It  was  indeed  a  very  dog  hole,  just  below  the  orlop, 
some  ten  feet  square  (or  thereabouts)  shut  in  'twixt  bulk- 
heads, mighty  solid  and  strong  but  with  a  crazy  door  so 
ill-hung  as  to  leave  a  good  three  inches  'twixt  it  and  the 
flooring.  It  had  been  a  storeroom  (as  I  guessed)  and, 
judging  by  the  reek  that  reached  me  above  the  stench  of 
the  bilge,  had  of  late  held  rancid  fat  of  some  sort;  just 
abaft  the  mizzen  it  lay  and  hard  against  the  massy  rud- 
derpost,  for  I  could  hear  the  creak  and  groan  of  the 
pintles  as  the  rudder  swung  to  the  tide.  Against  one 
bulkhead  I  had  contrived  a  rough  bunk  with  divers  planks 
and  barrels,  the  which  with  mattress  and  bedding  was  well 
enough. 

Now  opposite  my  berth,  within  easy  reach  of  my  hand, 
was  a  knot-hole  the  which,  by  some  trick  of  the  grain,  had 
much  the  look  of  a  great  staring  eye,  insomuch  that  (hav- 
ing no  better  employ)  I  fell  to  improving  on  nature's 
handiwork  with  my  knife,  carving  and  trimming  around 
it;  and  in  betwixt  my  sleeping,  my  eating  and  drinking 
(for  Adam  and  Godby  kept  me  excellent  well  supplied)  I 
would  betake  me  to  my  carving  and  fashioning  of  this  eye 
and  with  my  initials  below  it,  the  which  foolish  business 
(fond  and  futile  though  it  was)  served  in  no  small  measure 
to  abate  my  consuming  impatience  and  the  dreary  tedium. 

Howbeit  on  the  third  day,  my  situation  becoming  un- 
bearable, I  stumbled  out  from  my  dog  hole  and,  groping 
my  way  past  kegs  and  barrels  firm  wedged  in  place  against 
the  rolling  of  the  vessel,  I  climbed  the  ladder  to  the  orlop. 
Here  I  must  needs  pause,  for,  dim  though  it  was,  the  light 
from  the  open  scuttle  nigh  blinded  me.  In  a  while,  my 
eyes  growing  strong,  I  got  me  to  the  main  deck  where 
again  I  must  stay  to  shade  my  eyes  by  reason  of  the 
radiance  that  poured  through  an  open  gun  port.  Glanc- 
ing around  after  some  while,  I  saw  no  one  and  wondered, 
for  here  was  the  main  gun  deck.     Ten  great  pieces  a  side 


Aboard  the  Faithfull  Friend    1 1  g 

I  counted,  with  ports  for  divers  more;  I  was  yet  wonder- 
ing at  the  emptiness  about  me  when  I  heard  sudden  uproar 
from  the  deck  above  my  head,  —  shouts,  cries,  a  rush  and 
patter  of  many  feet  and  above  all  Penfeather's  furious 
hail. 

Wondering,  I  came  to  the  open  port  and,  leaning  out, 
saw  it  was  evening  with  a  heavy  mist  creeping  down  upon 
the  waters,  and  through  the  mist  loomed  a  great,  black 
ship  drifting  lubberly  across  our  hawse.  Louder  and 
more  furious  grew  the  shouting  above,  answered  by  a  hail 
aboard  the  great,  black  craft  as,  broadside  on,  she  swung 
towards  us. 

And  now,  creeping  in  the  mist,  I  beheld  a  small  boat 
with  a  ^eat,  shapeless  bundle  in  the  stern  sheets  and 
rowed  by  a  single  waterman  who  swung  easily  to  his  oars, 
scanning  now  the  Faithfidl  Friend,  now  the  great  black 
ship,  like  one  who  bided  the  inevitable  crash.  Sudden  I 
heard  the  roar  of  one  of  Penfeather's  ever-ready  pistols, 
followed  by  his  voice  upraised  in  vicious  sea-curses  and, 
glancing  up,  saw  the  black  ship  right  aboard  of  us  and 
braced  myself  for  the  impact ;  came  a  shock,  a  quiver  of 
creaking  timbers  and  the  groan  of  our  straining  hawsers 
as  the  black  ship,  falling  off,  drifted  by  In  a  roaring  storm 
of  oaths  and  blasphemy.  Now  when  her  battered  stem 
gallery  was  nigh  lost  In  the  mist,  bethinking  me  of  the 
boat  I  had  seen,  I  glanced  about  and  beheld  matter  that 
set  me  wondering;  for  here  was  the  fellow  plying  his  oars 
with  a  will  and  so  near  that  I  might  have  tossed  a  biscuit 
aboard  him ;  moreover  the  great  misshapen  bundle  had 
lain  in  the  stern  sheets  was  there  no  longer,  which  set  me 
mightily  a-wondering.  Long  after  man  and  boat  were 
swallowed  up  In  the  fog  I  sat  there  lost  In  thought,  inso- 
much that  I  started  to  feel  a  hearty  clap  on  the  shoulder 
and,  turning,  beheld  Godby,  a  pair  of  great  gold  rings  In 
his  ears  and  very  sailor-like  in  all  things  from  sea  boots 
to  mariner's  bonnet. 

"  Here 's  a  ploy,  Mart'n  ! "  said  he  with  a  round  oath. 
"Here's  yon  curst  lubberly  craft  carried  away  our  star- 


I20     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

board  cat-head  and  six  feet  o'  the  harpings  wi't,  sink  him ! 
And  us  but  waiting  for  my  lady  to  come  aboard  to  trip 
anchor  and  away.  And  now  here 's  we  shore-bound  for 
another  two  days  at  the  least,  as  I  'm  a  gunner !  And  all 
on  account  of  yon  black  dag,  bum  him !  A  plaguy  fine 
craft  as  sails  wi'  no  name  on  her  anywheres,  keelhaul  me 
else!  But  Penfeather  winged  one  o'  the  lubberly  rogues, 
praise  God,  Mart'n!  Which  done  and  with  due  time 
to  curse  'em,  every  mother's  son  of  'em,  he  turns  to  — 
him  and  the  carpenter  and  his  mates  there  and  then  to 
repair  damages  —  ha,  a  man  o'  mark  is  Captain  Adam, 
pal." 

"  Godby,"  asked  I,  "  did  ye  chance  to  see  aught  of  a 
boat  carrying  a  great  bundle  in  the  stem  sheets  and  rowed 
by  a  man  in  a  red  cap .''  " 

"  Nary  a  blink,  Mart'n,  —  why.?  " 

*'  I  'm  wondering  what  came  of  that  same  bundle  —  " 

*'  Hove  overboard,  belike,  pal  —  there 's  many  a  strange 
thing  goes  a-floating  out  to  sea  from  hereabouts, 
Mart'n  —  drownd  me ! " 

"  Belike  you  're  right !  "    said  I. 

**  Mart'n,  Sir  Rupert 's  ashore  to  meet  her  ladyship,  so 
you  'm  free  to  come  'bove  deck,  if  so  minded.'* " 

"  Nay,  I  '11  bide  where  I  am,  Godby." 

*'Why,  then  come,  Mart'n,  clap  your  eye  on  my  beau- 
ties; here's  guns,  Mart'n,  six  culverins,  and  t'  other's 
sakers,  and  yonder  astern  's  two  basilisks  as  shall  work  ye 
death  and  destruction  at  two  to  three  thousand  paces. 
'Bove  deck  amidships  I  've  divers  goodly  pieces  as  minions, 
falcons  and  patereros  with  murderers  mounted  aft  to 
sweep  the  waist.  For  her  size  she 's  well  armed,  is  the 
Faithfidl  Friend,  Mart'n  ! " 

Thus  Godby,  as  he  led  me  from  gun  to  gun,  slapping 
hand  on  breech  or  trunnion,  and  as  I  hearkened,  'twas 
hard  to  recognise  the  merry  peddler  in  this  short,  square, 
grave-faced  gunner  who  spake  with  mariner's  tongue, 
hitched  ever  and  anon  at  the  broad  belt  pf  his  galligas- 
kins and  rolled  in  his  gait  already. 


Aboard  the  Faithfull  Friend   121 

"  She 's  a  fair  ship ! "  said  I,  seating  myself  on  one  of 
the  great  guns  mounted  astern. 

"  She  is  so,  Mart'n.  There  's  no  finer  e'er  sailed  from 
Deptford  Pool,  which  is  saying  much,  split  me  if  it  is  n't. 
Though,  when  all 's  said,  Martin,  I  could  wish  for  twenty 
more  men  to  do  justice  to  my  noble  guns,  aye,  thirty  at  the 
least." 

"Are  we  so  short.'"' 

"  We  carry  but  ninety  and  two  all  told,  pal,  which  con- 
sidering my  guns  is  pity  —  aye,  vast  pity,  plague  me 
else!  'T would  leave  me  short-handed  to  serve  my  guns 
should  they  be  necessary,  which  is  fair  and  likely, 
Martin." 

"And  black  rogues  they  are!"  said  I. 

"  Never  clapped  eyes  on  worse,  pal,  kick  me  endwise 
else !  But  Captain  Adam 's  the  man  for  such,  and  I  mean 
to  work  'em  daily,  each  and  every,  at  my  guns  as  soon 
as  we  be  well  at  sea.  Ah,  there  soundeth  Toby  Hudd's 
pipe  —  all  hands  on  deck  —  this  should  be  her  ladyship 
coming  aboard.  So  here 's  me  aloft  and  you  alow,  and 
good  luck  to  both,  pal."  Saying  which  he  nodded,  gave 
a  hitch  to  his  wide  galligaskins  and  rolled  away. 

Now  coming  to  the  gun  port  I  have  mentioned,  I  must 
needs  pause  there  awhile  to  look  out  across  the  misty 
river,  already  darkening  to  evening;  and  thus  presently 
beheld  a  boat,  vague  and  blurred  at  first,  but  as  it  drew 
nearer,  saw  in  the  stem  sheets  four  gallants  who  laughed 
and  talked  gaily  enough,  and  the  muffled  forms  of  two 
women,  and  in  one,  from  the  bold,  free  carriage  of  her 
head,  I  recognised,  despite  hood  and  cloak,  my  Lady  Joan 
Brandon.  Nay,  as  the  boat  drew  in,  I  heard  the  sweet, 
vital  tones  of  her  voice  and  with  this  in  my  ears,  I  caught 
up  my  lanthorn  and  so  descended  to  the  orlop.  Now  as 
I  paused  at  the  narrow  scuttle  that  gave  down  to  my  nox- 
ious hiding  place,  I  thought  to  hear  a  step  somewhere  in 
the  gloom  below. 

"Ha,  Godby!"  cried  I.  "Are  ye  down  there,  man.?" 
But  getting  no  answer,  I  descended  the  ladder,  bethinking 


122     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

me  of  the  rats  (whereof  I  had  no  lack  of  company)  and 
coming  into  my  dog  hole,  closed  the  rickety  door  and 
having  supped,  cast  myself  down  upon  my  bed  and  blew 
out  the  light,  and  despite  the  rustle  and  scutter  away 
there  in  the  dark  beyond  my  crazy  door  I  was  very  soon 
asleep. 

And  in  my  sleep  what  must  I  dream  of  but  rats  with 
eyes  that  glared  in  the  dark,  that  crawled  ever  nearer, 
while  one  that  crept  upon  my  bosom  grew  and  swelled 
into  a  great  fellow  with  a  steel  hook  in  place  of  one  hand, 
a  face  with  flashing  white  teeth  and  glowing  eyes  that 
peered  close  ere  eyes  and  teeth  vanished,  and  I  sunk  down 
and  down  into  a  black  emptiness  of  dreamless  slumber. 


CHAPTER   XIV 

Tells  How  We  Were   Dogged  by  the  Black   Ship 

I  AWOKE  in  panic  and  leaping  up  groped  in  the  pitch  dark 
until  mj  eager  fingers  closed  on  the  haft  of  the  sheath 
knife  under  my  pillow  and  with  this  naked  in  my  hand  I 
crouched,  awaiting  I  knew  not  what;  for  all  about  me 
was  direful  sound,  groans  and  cries  with  wailings  long 
drawn  out  in  shuddering  complaint.  Then,  all  at  once,  my 
panic  was  lost  in  sudden  great  content  and,  thrusting 
away  the  knife,  I  took  flint  and  steel  and  therewith  lighted 
my  lanthorn ;  since  now  indeed  I  knew  these  dismal  sounds 
were  nought  but  the  creak  and  groan  of  the  stout  ship, 
the  voice  of  her  travail  as  she  rose  to  the  seas.  And 
as  I  hearkened,  every  individual  timber  seemed  to  find 
a  voice,  and  what  with  this  and  the  uneasy  pitching 
and  rolling  of  the  ship  I  judged  we  were  well  under  way 
and  beyond  the  river  mouth.  This  (bethinking  me  of  the 
damage  we  had  sustained  from  the  great,  black  ship)  set 
roe  to  wondering,  insomuch  that  I  reached  for  my  lan- 
thorn, minded  to  steal  on  deck  that  I  might  know  our 
whereabouts  and  if  it  were  day  or  night,  since  here  in  the 
bowels  of  the  ship  it  was  always  night.  So  (as  I  say)  I 
reached  for  the  lanthorn,  then  paused,  as  above  all  other 
sounds  rose  a  cheery  hail  and  under  the  door  was  the  flicker 
of  a  light.  Hereupon  I  opened  the  door  (though  with 
strangely  awkward  fingers)  and  thus  espied  Godby  lurch- 
ing towards  me. 

"  What,  Mart'n,  pal,"  said  he,  sitting  beside  me  on  my 
berth  and  setting  down  the  food  and  drink  he  had  brought, 
"  are  ye  waking  at  last.?  " 

"Have  I  slept  long,  Godby.?" 


124     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

"  You  've  slept,  Mart'n,  a  full  thirty  hours." 

"Thirty  hours,  Godby?" 

"  Split  me  crosswise  else,  pal ! " 

*'  Mighty  strange ! "  said  I,  reaching  for  the  flask  he 
had  brought,  for  I  felt  my  mouth  bitterly  parched  and  dry 
while,  added  to  the  consuming  thirst,  my  head  throbbed 
miserably. 

*'  Well,  here  we  be,  pal,  clear  o'  the  river  this  twelve 
hours  and  more.  And,  Mart'n,  this  is  a  ship  —  aye,  by 
hokey,  a  sailer!  So  true  on  a  wind,  so  sweet  to  her  helm, 
and  Master  Adam  's  worthy  of  her,  blister  me  else ! " 

"  'T  is  strange  I  should  sleep  so  long ! "  and  I  clasped 
my  aching  head. 

"  Why,  you  'm  wise  to  sleep  all  ye  can,  pal,  seeing  there 
be  nought  better  to  do  here  i'  the  dark,"  said  he,  setting 
out  the  viands  before  me.  "  What,  no  appetite,  Mart'n?  " 
I  shook  my  head.  "  Lord  love  ye,  't  is  the  dark  and  the 
curst  reek  o'  this  place,  pal  —  come  aloft,  all 's  bowmou ; 
the  fine  folk  hain't  found  their  legs  yet,  nor  like  to 
while  this  wind  holds,  Mart'n  —  so  come  aloft  wi'  Godby." 

Nothing  loth,  I  rose  and  stumbled  towards  the  ladder, 
marvelling  to  find  my  hands  and  feet  so  unwieldy  as  I 
climbed ;  the  higher  I  went  the  more  the  rolling  and  pitch- 
ing of  the  ship  grew  on  me,  so  that  when  at  last  I  dragged 
myself  out  on  deck  it  was  no  wonder  to  find  the  weather 
very  blusterous  and  with,  ever  and  anon,  clouds  of  white 
spray  lashing  aboard  out  of  the  hissing  dark  with  much 
wind  that  piped  shrill  and  high  in  cordage  and  rigging. 

Being  sheltered  by  the  high  bulwark  hard  beside  the 
quarter-deck  ladder,  I  leaned  awhile  to  stare  about  me 
and  drink  in  great  draughts  of  sweet,  clean  air,  so  that  in 
a  little  my  head  grew  easier  and  the  heaviness  passed  from 
me.  Ever  and  anon  the  moon  peeped  through  wrack  of 
flying  cloud,  by  whose  pale  beam  I  caught  glimpses  of 
bellying  sails  towering  aloft  with  their  indefinable  mass  of 
gear  and  rigging  and  the  heel  and  lift  of  her  looming  fore- 
castle as  the  stately  vessel  rose  to  the  heaving  seas  or 
plunged  in  a  white  smother  of  foam. 


Dogged  by  the  Black  Ship      125 

"  She  rides  well,  Mart'n ! "  roared  Godby  in  my  ear. 
"  Aha,  here  's  duck  of  a  ship,  pal !  " 

"  Where  's  Adam  ?  "   I  questioned. 

"  To'gallant  poop,  Martin.  Lord  love  ye,  it 's  little 
sleep  he 's  had  since  we  hove  anchor.  Hark  'ee,  pal  —  he 's 
got  it  into  his  head  as  we  'm  being  dogged !  " 

"  Dogged,  man  —  by  what  ?  " 

"By  that  same  great,  black  ship  as  fouled  us  —  he  has 
so,  pal  —  roast  me  else!  But  come  your  ways."  So  say- 
ing, Godby  climbed  to  the  quarter-deck  and  I  after  him, 
and  mounting  the  poop  ladder,  presently  came  on  Pen- 
feather,  peering  hard  over  our  lee. 

"  Ha,  is  it  you,  shipmate ! "  said  he,  drawing  me  out 
of  the  wind.  "  Look  yonder ;  d'  ye  see  aught  of  a  rag 
o'  sail,  Martin .'' "  Following  his  pointing  finger,  I 
stared  away  into  the  distance  across  a  tumbling  spume 
of  waters  vague  in  the  half  light.  "  D'  ye  glimpse  aught, 
Martin.?" 

"  Nothing,  Adam  I " 

*'Wait  for  the  moon,  shipmate  —  now,  look  yonder!" 
As  the  light  grew,  I  swept  the  distant  horizon  with  my 
eyes  until,  all  at  once  against  the  night,  I  saw  the  sheen  of 
distant  canvas  that  gleamed  and  was  gone  again  as  a  cloud 
veiled  the  moon.     "  You  saw  it,  Martin  ?  " 

"  Plainly ! "  answered  I,  whereupon  he  sprang  away  to 
the  men  at  the  helm;  came  the  hoarse  roar  of  speak- 
ing trumpet,  and  decks  and  waist  below  seemed  alive 
with  scurrying,  dim  figures ;  and  now  was  a  .chorus  of 
shouts  and  yo-ho-ing  as  the  Faithfull  Friend,  obedient  to 
his  commands,  swung  off  upon  an  altered  course. 

"  Godby,"  said  Adam,  beckoning  us  where  stood  the 
compass  or  bittacle,  "  look  'ee,  as  she  bears  now  we  should 
be  nigh  enough  yon  curst  ship  to  learn  more  of  her  by 
peep  o'  dawn." 

"Aye,  Cap'n  — and  then.?" 

"  Then  you  shall  try  what  you  can  do  wi'  one  o'  those 
long  guns  o'  yours." 

"  Lord  love  ye,  Cap'n,  that 's  the  spirit !  "  cried  Godby, 


126     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

hitching  j  oyously  at  liis  broad  belt.  "  All  I  asks  Is  a  fair 
light  and  no  favour !  " 

"  And  you  have  the  middle  watch,  Godby  man,  so  I  '11 
get  a  wink  o'  sleep,"  said  Adam,  "  but  do  you  call  me  so 
soon  as  we  raise  her  hull.  As  for  you,  Martin,  you  '11 
have  slept  your  fill,  I  judge." 

*'  And  yet  I  'm  plaguy  drowsy  still !  " 

*'  There 's  a  spare  berth  in  the  coach,  comrade,  an 
you  're  so  minded  1 " 

"  Nay,  Adam,  I  '11  watch  a  while  with  Godby." 

**  Good !  You  've  keen  eyes,  Martin  —  use  'em ! "  said 
he,  and  goes  down  the  ladder  forthwith. 

And  now,  pacing  the  lofty  poop  beside  Godby,  I  was 
aware  that  the  Faithfull  Friend  was  dark  fore  and  aft; 
not  a  light  twinkled  anywhere. 

"How  comes  this,  Godby.'"'  asked  I,  pointing  to  the 
dim  shapes  of  the  great  stern  lanthorns  above  us. 

"  Cap'n's  orders,  Martin !  We  've  been  dark  these  two 
nights,  and  yet  if  yon  craft  is  what  we  think,  'twould 
seem  she  follows  us  by  smell,  pal,  smell.  As  how,  say  you.'' 
Says  I,  last  night  she  was  fair  to  be  seen,  having  closed  us 
during  the  day,  so  out  go  our  lights  and  up  goes  our 
helm  and  we  stand  away  from  her.  At  dawn  she  was  no- 
where and  yet  —  here  she  is  again  —  If  yon  ship  be  the 
same." 

"  Which  we  shall  learn  in  an  hour  or  so,  Godby." 

"  Aye,  Mart'n,  if  she  don't  smell  us  a-coming  and  bear 
away  from  us.  And  yet  she  must  be  a  clean,  fast  vessel, 
but  we'll  overhaul  her  going  roomer  or  on  a  bowline." 

"Roomer.''     Speak  plain,  Godby,  I'm  no  mariner!" 

"  Time  '11  teach  ye,  pal !  Look  'ee  now,  '  roomer '  means 
*  large ',  and  '  large '  means  '  free '  and  '  free '  means  wi'  a 
quartering  wind,  and  that  means  going  away  from  the 
wind  or  the  wind  astam  of  us ;  whiles  *  on  a  bowline ' 
means  close-hauled  agin  the  wind,  d'  ye  see .''  " 

"Godby,  'tis  hard  to  believe  you  that  same  peddler  I 
fell  in  with  at  the  '  Hop-pole.' " 

*'  Why,  Mart'n,  I  'm  a  cove  as  adapts  himself  accord- 


Dogged  by  the  Black  Ship     127 

ing.  Give  me  a  pack  and  I  'm  all  peddler  and  j  'y  in 
it;  gi'e  me  a  ship  and  I'm  all  mariner  to  handle  her 
sweet  and  kind  and  lay  ye  a  course  wi'  any  —  though, 
guns  is  my  meat,  Mart'n.  Fifteen  year  I  followed  the 
sea  and  a  man  is  apt  to  learn  a  little  in  such  time.  So 
here  stand  I  this  day  not  only  gunner  but  master's  mate 
beside  of  as  tight  a  ship,  maugre  the  crew,  as  ever  sailed 
—  and  all  along  o'  that  same  chance  meeting  at  the 
'  Hop-pole.' " 

"  And  though  a  friend  of  Bym  you  knew  little  of  Adam 
Penfeather.?" 

"Little  enough,  Mart'n;  Joel  be  no  talker  —  but  it  do 
seem  Jo  was  one  o'  the  Coast  Brotherhood  once  when 
Cap'n  Penfeather  saved  his  life  and  that,  years  agone. 
So  Joel  comes  home  and  sets  up  marriage,  free  trade  and 
what  not  when  one  day  lately  Master  Adam  walks  into  the 
'  Peck  o'  Malt '  and  no  whit  changed  for  all  the  years  save 
his  white  hair.     And  here  comes  rain,  Mart'n  —  " 

"  And  wind ! "  said  I,  as  the  stout  ship  reeled  and 
plunged  to  the  howling  gust. 

"  No,  Mart'n,"  roared  Godby  above  the  piping  tumult, 
"not  real  wind,  pal  —  a  stiffish  breeze  —  jolly  capful." 

Slowly  the  night  wore  away  and  therewith  the  buffeting 
wind  gentled  somewhat;  gradually  in  the  east  was  a  pale 
glimmer  that,  growing,  showed  great,  black  masses  of 
torn  cloud  scudding  fast  above  our  reeling  mastheads  and 
all  about  us  a  troubled  sea.  But  as  the  light  grew,  look 
how  I  might,  nowhere  could  I  descry  aught  of  any  ship 
upon  that  vast  horizon  of  foaming  waters. 

"Ha!"  said  Godby,  venting  huge  sigh,  "there's  to  be 
no  play  for  my  guns  this  day,  Mart'n."  , 

"Nay  but,"  said  I,  mighty  perplexed,  "what's  come 
of  her.''  She  could  never  have  marked  our  change  of  course 
at  the  distance  and  'twas  black  dark  beside,  and  we  bore 
no  lights." 

"  Mayhap  she  smelt  us,  pal,  as  I  said  afore.  Howbeit, 
't  is  beyond  me,  cram  me  wi'  rope  yarn  else ! " 

Now,  as  he  spoke,  up  came  the  sun,  turning  lowering 


128     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

sky  and  tempestuoujs  ocean  to  glory;  every  ragged  cloud 
became  as  it  were  streaming  banners  enwrought  of  scarlet 
and  gold,  every  foaming  billow  a  rolling  splendour  rain- 
bow-capped, insomuch  that  I  stood  awed  by  the  very 
beauty  of  it  all. 

"  I  love  the  good,  kind  earth,  Mart'n,  wi'  its  green  grass 
and  flowers  a-peep ;  't  is  a  fair  resting-place  for  a  man 
when  all 's  done  and  said,  but  yonder,  pal  —  ah,  there  's 
glory  for  ye !  Many 's  the  time  I  've  watched  it,  dawn 
and  sunset,  and,  minding  all  the  goodly  ships  and  the 
jolly  lads  as  are  a-sleeping  down  below,  at  such  times, 
Mart'n,  it  do  seem  to  me  as  if  all  the  good  and  glory  of 
'em  came  aloft  for  eyes  to  see  awhile ;  howbeit,  't  is  a  noble 
winding  sheet,  pal,  from  everlasting  to  everlasting,  amen ! 
And  by  that  same  token  the  wind 's  veering,  wliich  meaneth 
a  fair-weather  spell,  and  I  must  trim.  Meantime  do  you 
rouse  Master  Adam."  And  here,  setting  hands  to  mouth, 
Godby  roared  high  above  the  wind: 

"Watch  ho!  Watch!  Brace  about — bowse  away 
there ! " 

As  I  crossed  the  deck,  up  the  poop  ladder  came  Adam 
himself,  his  red  seaman's  bonnet  tight-drawn  about  his 
ears/  and  a  perspective  glass  under  his  arm.  "  'T  is  as  I 
thought,  Martin,"  said  he,  pinching  his  chin  and  scowling 
away  to  leeward ;  "  she  changed  course  as  we  did." 

**Nay,  but,  Adam,  how  should  she  know  we  changed 
and  the  night  so  black  —  " 

*'  Very  easily,  shipmate,  by  means  of  a  light  —  " 

"  We  bore  no  lights,  Adam." 

"None  the  less,  some  one  aboard  this  ship  signalled  yon 
black  craft  by  means  of  a  lanthorn ;   't  is  beyond  doubt ! " 

"And  why  should  she  follow  us,  think  ye.'"' 

"  Why  am  I  a  marked  man,  shipmate ;  why  have  I  been 
dogged  hither  and  yon  across  seas.^*  Come  into  the  coach 
and  I  '11  tell  ye  a  thing.  Godby,"  coming  where  Godby 
stood  beside  the  steersman,  "lay  her  on  her  old  course. 
'Tis  Merrilees  takes  next  watch,  I  think  —  tell  him  to 
warn  me  so  soon  as  we  raise  her  accursed  topsails." 


Dogged  by  the  Black  Ship     129 

"  What,"  said  I,  as  we  climbed  from  the  lofty  poop, 
"you  think  she  will  dog  us  still,  then?  " 

"  I  know  it,  Martin !  "  said  he  gloomily  and  so  brought 
me  into  a  smallish  cabin  under  the  topgallant  poop ;  here 
were  bunks  to  larboard  and  starboard  with  a  table  mid- 
way furnished  with  calendars,  charts,  a  cross-staff,  an 
astrolabe,  with  globes  and  the  like,  while  against  the  walls 
stood  rows  of  calivers,  musquetoons  and  fusees,  set  in  racks 
very  orderly.  "  Aye,  shipmate,"  said  he,  noting  my  gaze, 
"  every  firelock  aboard  is  either  here  or  in  the  arm-chests 
i'  the  roundhouse  below,  and  our  powder  is  all  stored  well 
aft,  by  reason  that  I  am  a  cautious  man,  d'  ye  see !  Sit  ye, 
Martin !  Now  as  to  this  black  ship  —  first  of  all  she  fouls 
us  in  the  river,  the  which  was  no  accident,  Martin,  though 
just  what  the  motive  was  I'm  yet  a-seeking.  Second,  as 
she  drifted  past  us,  whom  should  I  see  aboard  her  but 
Abnegation  Mings  and  pulled  trigger  a  moment  too  late 
but  winged  another  o'  the  rogues.  Third,  when  we  'd  re- 
paired our  damage  and  got  us  clear  of  the  river,  what 
should  we  see  but  this  same  black  ship  hove  short  wait- 
ing us,  for  she  presently  stands  after  us.  And  so  she 's 
dogged  us  ever  since  and  so  dog  us  she  will  to  the  world's 
end  unless  I  can  bring  her  to  action." 

"  She 's  a  fighting  ship  by  her  looks  and  heavily 
armed ! " 

"  So  are  we,  Martin  ! " 

"  And  our  men,  Adam .'' "  \ 

"  Ah !  "  said  he,  pinching  his  chin,  "  there  it  is,  Martin, 
there  it  is !  Look  'ee,  shipmate,  in  all  this  crew  there  are 
no  more  than  twenty  men  I  can  count  on;  nay,  less  — 
ten  only  can  I  swear  by.  See  now,  here's  you  and  Mer- 
rilees  and  Godby,  here's  Farnaby  and  Toby  Hudd  the 
bo's'n,  Treliving  the  carpenter,  and  McLean  his  mate; 
here 's  Robins  and  Perks  and  Taffery  the  armourer,  — 
good  mariners  all.  These  I  can  trust,  shipmate,  but  never 
another  one ! " 

"  And  what  of  the  captain.  Sir  Rupert  Dering! " 

"  That,    Martin ! "    replied   Penfeather,    snapping   his 


130     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

fingers.  "  A  very  gentleman-like  fool,  d'  je  see,  a  bladder 
of  air  — like  his  three  fellows." 

"So  we  have  four  gentlemen  aboard,  Adam.?" 

"Aye  —  princocks  all  that  do  nothing  but  vie  in  court 
to  her  ladyship!  Now  look'ee,  Martin,  what  with  one 
thing  or  another  and  this  hell-fire  ship  on  our  heels  in 
especial,  there's  stir  and  disaffection  among  the  crew,  a 
whispering  o'  comers  that  I  don't  like,  and  which  is  apt 
to  spread  unless  looked  to.  Wherefore  this  morning  I 
ordered  a  certain  red-haired  rascal  fifty  lashes  athwart  a 
gun.  But  the  bo's'n  had  laid  on  but  poor  ten  and  the 
fellow  roaring  lustily  when  into  the  'tween-decks  cometh 
my  lady  in  mighty  taking  and,  seeing  the  rogue's  back  a 
little  bloody,  orders  him  freed  and  thereafter  cossets  him 
wl'  dainties  from  her  own  table.  Lord  love  ye!  Which 
cometh  o'  women  aboard  ship ! "  And  here  Adam  sighed 
mighty  dismal. 

"  Why,  then,"   said  I,   "  here  's  work  for  me,  belike." 

"  As  how,  Martin  ?  " 

"  Nay,  leave  it  to  me ;  being  little  better  than  rogue 
myself  I  should  know  how  to  outmatch  roguery ! " 

"Meaning  you'll  spy  on  'em,  shipmate?" 

"And  lie  and  cozen  and  join  fellowship  with  'em  if  need 
be.  Howbeit  if  there 's  aught  afoot  I  '11  bottom  it,  one 
rascally  fashion  or  t'other." 

"  'T  is  desperate  risk,  Martin,  and  should  they  sus- 
picion you  —  " 

"  Why,  look,  Adam,  my  life 's  none  so  sweet  or  precious 
that  I  'd  cherish  it  in  lavender.  Beside,  I  've  a  feeling  I 
may  not  die  until  —  at  least,  not  yet." 

"  Wait ! "  said  he,  as  I  rose.  "  Bide  a  while,  Martin !  " 
And,  opening  a  locker  beneath  his  bunk,  he  took  thence  a 
shirt  of  fine  chainwork  like  that  he  himself  wore.  Shaking 
my  head  I  would  have  put  it  by,  but  he  caught  my  arm  in 
his  powerful  grip  and  shook  me  insistent.  "  Take  it, 
Martin,"  said  he,  "  take  it,  man ;  't  is  easy  and  pleasant 
as  any  glove  yet  mighty  efficacious  'gainst  point  or  edge, 
and  you  gC  where  knives  are  sudden !     Stay,  then,  take  it 


Dogged  by  the  Black  Ship     131 

for  my  sake,  shipmate,  since  trusty  comrades  be  few  and 
mighty  hard  come  by."  So  in  the  end  I  did  it  on  beneath 
my  doublet  and  found  it  to  irk  me  nothing.  "  And  now, 
what?"  he  questioned,  as  I  opened  the  door. 

"  Sleep,"   answered  I,  yawning. 

"  There  's  a  bunk  yonder,  Martin,"  said  he,  eyeing  me 
'twixt  narrowed  lids. 

"  Nay,  I  'm  for  my  dog  hole,  Adam." 

"You  seem  to  sleep  much  and  mighty  well,  despite 
stench  and  rats,  shipmate." 

"  I  'm  grown  used  to  'em,"  I  said,  with  another  yawn, 
"  and  as  to  sleeping  I  do  little  else  of  late  —  't  is  the 
dark,  belike,  or  bad  air,  or  lack  of  exercise." 

Now  as  I  rose  to  be  gone,  the  deck  seemed  to  heave 
oddly  beneath  my  feet  and  the  cabin  to  swing  dizzily 
round,  so  that  I  must  needs  grip  at  the  table  to  steady 
myself  while  Adam  peered  at  me  through  a  haze,  as  it 
were. 

"  What 's  here,  Martin,  are  ye  sick .''  "   he  questioned. 

"  A  vertigo !  "  I  mumbled.  "  I  '11  into  the  air !  "  In  a 
little,  the  dizziness  abating,  I  got  me  out  on  deck  and  found 
in  the  rushing  wind  mighty  comfort  and  refreshment, 
while  Adam  steadied  me  with  his  arm.  "  Let  be ! "  said 
I,  shaking  off  his  hold.  "  'T  was  nought  —  I  '11  go  sleep 
again."  And  waiting  for  no  more  I  stumbled  down  the 
quarter  ladder;  but  even  as  I  went,  the  haze  seemed  to 
close  about  me  thicker  than  ever  and  groping  my  way  to 
the  ship's  side  I  sank  across  the  bulwark  and  was  misera- 
bly sick.  This  agony  passing,  I  made  my  way  below 
until  I  reached  the  orlop;  but  now,  feeling  my  sickness 
upon  me  again,  I  crept  away  into  a  dark  corner  and  cast 
me  down  there.  And  lying  thus  in  my  misery  I  little  by 
little  became  aware  of  some  one  weeping  hard  by,  a  deso- 
late sobbing  very  pitiful  to  hear.  Insomuch  that  (maugre 
my  weakness)  I  got  up  and  going  whence  this  sobbing  pro- 
ceeded, presently  came  on  a  small,  huddled  figure  and, 
stooping,  saw  it  was  a  little  lad.  At  my  step  he  started 
to  his  knees,  elbow  upraised  as  if  expecting  a  blow. 


132      Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

"Why  d*ye  weep,  boy?"  I  questioned.  "What's 
your  trouble  ?  " 

"  Nowt ! "  replied  he,  cowering  away ;  but  taking  him 
by  his  little,  thin  shoulders  I  lifted  him  into  the  dim  light 
of  a  swinging  lanthorn  and  looked  into  a  small,  pallid 
face,  swollen  and  disfigured  by  cuts  and  bruises  wrought 
by  some  brutal  hand. 

"Who  did  this.?"    I  demanded. 

"  Nobody ! "   said  he,  gulping  a  sob. 

**  Who  are  you  ?  " 

"  'Tween-decks  boy." 

"How  old  are  you,  child.'*" 

At  this  he  stared  up  at  me  out  of  his  swollen  eyes  then, 
covering  his  face  in  ragged  sleeve,  broke  into  con\ailsive 
sobbing. 

"  What  now.?  "  asked  I,  drawing  him  beside  me.  "  What 
now—.?" 

"She  used  to  call  me  *  child'  —  my  mother  — "  and 
here  his  grief  choked  him.  NoW  as  I  looked  down  upon  this 
little,  pitiful  creature,  I  forgot  my  sickness  in  sudden, 
fierce  anger. 

"  Boy,"  said  I,  *'  who 's  been  flogging  you  —  speak !  " 

"Red  Andy  —  "  he  gasped;  "  'e  be  always  a-doin'  of  it, 
'e  be  —  wish  I  was  dead  like  my  mother — " 

"  Jim,  ho,  Jimmy,"  roared  a  voice  from  somewhere  in 
the  gloom  forward.  **  Jim  —  plague  seize  ye,  show  a  leg, 
will  'ee  —  "  Here  (and  before  I  could  stay  him)  the  boy 
started  up'  and  pattered  away,  drying  his  tears  as  he  ran. 
Now  as  I  lay  there  I  kicked  off  my  shoes  and  hearkened 
expectant.  Thus,  all  at  once  I  heard  a  murmur  rising  to 
a  wail  that  ended  in  a  shrill  scream  and,  getting  to  my 
feet,  I  crept  stealthily  forward.  Past  main  and  foremasts 
I  crept,  past  dark  storerooms  and  cubby-holes  and  so  to 
a  crack  of  light  and,  clapping  my  eye  thereto,  espied  two 
fellows  rolling  dice  and  beyond  them  the  boy,  his  hands 
lashed  miserably  to  a  staple  in  the  bulkhead,  his  little 
body  writhing  under  the  cruel  blows  of  a  rope's-end 
wielded  by  a  great,  red-headed  fellow. 


Dogged  by  the  Black  Ship     133 

Now  in  mj  many  desperate  affrays  with  my  fellow- 
slaves  (those  two-legged  beasts)  I  had  learned  it  is  the 
first  blow  that  tells ;  wherefore,  groping  for  the  latch,  I 
stealthily  opened  the  door  and  or  ever  the  red-headed 
fellow  was  aware,  I  was  upon  him  from  behind  and,  giving 
him  no  chance  for  defence,  I  smote  him  a  buffet  under  the 
ear  that  tumbled  him  against  the  bulkhead,  whence  he 
sank  to  hands  and  knees.  Then  while,  half-dazed,  he 
strove  to  rise,  I  kicked  him  down  again  and,  setting  my 
foot  upon  his  chest,  caught  up  the  rope's-end  he  had 
dropped  and  beat  him  therewith  until  he  roared,  until  he 
groaned  and  lay  writhing,  face  hid  beneath  his  crossed 
arras.  Then,  whipping  out  my  knife,  I  fronted  his  two 
mates,  the  one  a  doleful,  bony  man  with  a  squint,  the 
other  a  small,  mean,  black-eyed  fellow  in  a  striped  shirt 
who,  closing  one  bright  eye,  leered  at  me  with  the  other. 
All  at  once  he  nodded  and  pointing  from  the  knife  in  my 
fist  to  the  fellow  groaning  beneath  my  foot,  drew  a  long 
thumb  across  his  own  stringy  throat  and  nodded  again. 
Hereupon  I  stooped  above  my  captive  and  set  the  flat  of 
my  blade  to  his  forehead  just  below  his  thick,  red  hair. 

"  Look  'ee,  dog ! "  I  panted  while  he  glared  up  at  me 
beneath  his  bruised  arms.  "  Set  so  much  as  a  finger  on  yon 
pitiful  brat  again,  and  I  '11  cut  a  mark  in  your  gallows 
face  shall  last  your  life  out." 

"  His  throat,  cully  —  quick 's  the  word !  "  breathed  a 
voice  in  my  ear.  But  now  as  I  turned  and  the  little, 
black-eyed  fellow  leapt  nimbly  back,  was  a  creaking  and 
groaning  of  the  ladder  that  led  to  the  main  deck  above, 
and  down  came  a  pair  of  prodigious  stout  legs,  and  after 
these  a  round  body  and  last  of  all  a  great,  flat  face,  small 
of  mouth,  small  of  nose  and  with  a  pair  of  little,  quick 
eyes  that  winked  and  blinked  betwixt  hairless  lids. 

Having  got  hira  down  the  ladder  (and  with  wondrous 
ease  for  one  of  his  bulk)  the  fat  fellow  stood  winking  and 
blinking  at  me  the  while  he  patted  one  of  his  plump  cheeks 
with  plump  finger. 

"  Love  my  limbs ! "  said  he  in  soft,  high-pitched  voice. 


134     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

"  Perish  and  plague  me,  but  who 's  the  friend  as  be  a 
rope's-erjding  o'  ye,  Andy  lad  —  you  as  be  cock  o'  the 
ship?  "  Here  the  fellow  beneath  my  foot  essayed  to  curse 
but  groaned  instead.  "  Bless  my  guts ! "  said  the  fat 
man,  blinking  harder  than  ever.  "  So  bad  as  that,  Andy 
lad-f*  Wot  then,  hath  this  fine,  upstanding  cock  o'  cocks 
thrashed  all  the  hell-fire  spirit  out  o'  ye,  Andy  lad.^*  Love 
my  innards  —  I  thought  no  man  aboard  could  do  as  much, 
Andy." 

"He  jumped  me  from  behind!"  said  the  fellow  Andy 
'twixt  snarl  and  groan  and  writhing  under  my  prisoning 
feet. 

"And  where,"  asked  the  fat  man,  smiling  at  me, 
"  where  might  you  ha'  come  from,  my  bird  o'  price .''  The 
bo's'n's  mate,  Samuel  Spraggons  is  me,  friend  —  Sam  for 
short,  called  likewise  Smiling  Sam  —  come,  come,  never 
scowl  on  Sam  —  nobody  never  quarrels  with  the  Smiler; 
I  'm  friends  wi'  every  one,  I  am,  friend." 

"Why,  then  — loose  the  child!"  said  I. 

"  Child  .f*  Ha,  is 't  this  little  rogueling  ye  mean, 
friend.''"  As  he  spoke  (and  smiling  yet)  he  caught  the 
boy's  ear  and  wrung  it  'twixt  vicious  thumb  and  finger, 
whereon  I  whirled  the  rope's-end,  but  he  sprang  out  of 
reach  with  wondrous  agility  and  stood  patting  plump 
cheek  and  smiling  more  kindly  than  ever  the  while  I  cut 
the  cords  that  bound  the  boy's  wrists,  who,  with  an  up- 
flung,  wondering  look  at  me,  sped  away  into  the  orlop 
and  was  gone. 

"Now  mark  me,  Spraggons,"  said  I,  "harm  the  child 
again  —  any  of  ye  —  and  I'll  beat  your  fat  carcass  to 
a  jelly." 

*'  No,  no !  "  quoth  he,  "  you  can't  quarrel  wl'  me ;  the 
Smiler  don't  never  quarrel  wi'  none  —  you  'd  never  strike 
Smiling  Sam,  friend  ! " 

"  Stand  still  and  see ! "  said  I.  But  hereupon  he  re- 
treated to  the  ladder  and  I,  feeling  mj^  sickness  upon  me 
again,  contented  me  by  throwing  the  rope's-end  at  the  fel- 
low and,  stepping  out  backward,  clapped  to  the  door.     So 


Dogged  by  the  Black  Ship      135 

with  what  speed  I  might  I  got  me  down  into  the  hold 
and  to  my  dog  hole.  And  here  I  saw  I  had  left  my  Ian- 
thorn  burning  and  found  in  this  light  strange  comfort. 
Now  being  mighty  athirst  I  reached  the  demijohn  from 
the  corner  and  drank  deep,  but  the  good  water  tasted  ill 
on  my  parched  tongue;  moreover  the  place  seemed 
strangely  close  and  airless  and  I  in  a  great  heat,  where- 
fore I  tore  off  my  sleeved  doublet  and,  kicking  off  my 
shoes,  cast  myself  upon  my  miserable  bed.  But  now,  as  I 
lay  blinking  at  the  lanthorn,  I  was  seized  of  sudden,  great 
dread,  though  of  what  I  knew  not ;  and  ever  as  my  drowsi- 
ness increased  so  grew  my  fear  until  (and  all  at  once)  I 
knew  that  the  thing  I  dreaded  was  sleep  and  fain  would  I 
have  started  up,  but,  even  then,  sleep  seized  me,  and  strive 
how  I  would  my  eyes  closed  and  I  fell  into  deep  and  fear- 
haunted  slumber. 


CHAPTER   XV 

Telleth  How  An  Eye  Watched  Me  from  the  Daek 

It  is  not  my  intention  to  chronicle  all  those  minor  hap- 
penings that  befell  us  at  this  time  lest  my  narrative  prove 
overlong  and  therefore  tedious  to  the  reader.  Suffice  it 
then  that  the  fair  weather  foretold  by  Godby  bad  set  in, 
and  day  by  day  we  stood  on  with  a  favouring  wind. 
Nevertheless,  despite  calm  weather  and  propitious  gale,  the 
disaffection  among  the  crew  waxed  apace  by  reason  of  the 
great  black  ship  that  dogged  us,  some  holding  her  to  be  a 
bloody  pirate  and  others  a  phantom  ship  foredooming  us 
to  destruction. 

As  to  myself,  never  was  poor  wretch  in  more  woeful 
plight  for,  'prisoned  in  the  stifling  hold  where  no  ray  of 
kindly  sun  might  ever  penetrate  and  void  of  all  human 
fellowship,  I  became  a  prey  to  wild,  unholy  fancies  and  a 
mind-sickness  bred  of  my  brooding  humours ;  my  evil 
thoughts  seemed  to  take  on  stealthy  shapes  that  haunted 
the  fetid  gloom  about  me,  shapes  of  horror  and  murder 
conjured  up  of  my  own  vengeful  imaginations.  An  evil 
time  indeed  this,  of  long,  uneasy  sleepings,  of  hateful 
dreams  and  ill  wakings,  of  sullen  humours  and  a  horror  of 
all  companionship  insomuch  that  when  came  Godby  or 
Adam  to  supply  my  daily  wants,  I  would  hide  myself 
until  they  should  be  gone;  thereafter,  tossing  feverishly 
upon  my  miserable  bed,  I  would  brood  upon  my  wrongs, 
hugging  to  myself  the  thought  of  vengeance  and  joying 
in  the  knowledge  that  every  hour  brought  me  the  nearer 
its  fulfilment. 

And  now  it  was  that  I  became  possessed  of  an  uneasy 


Telleth  How  an  Eye  Watched  Me   137 

feeling  that  I  was  not  alone,  that  beyond  my  crazy  door 
was  a  thing,  soft-breathing,  that  lurked  watchful-eyed  in 
the  gloom,  hearkening  for  my  smallest  movement  and  fol- 
lowing on  soundless  feet  whithersoever  I  went.  This 
unease  so  grew  upon  me  that  when  not  lost  in  fevered 
sleep  I  would  lie,  with  breath  in  check,  listening  to  such 
sounds  as  reached  me  above  the  never-ceasing  groaning 
of  the  vessel's  labour,  until  the  squeak  and  scutter  of  some 
rat  hard  by  or  any  unwonted  rustling  beyond  the  door 
would  bring  me  to  an  elbow  in  sweating  panic. 

To  combat  the  which  sick  fancies  it  became  my  custom 
to  steal  up  from  my  fetid  hiding  place  at  dead  of  night 
and  to  prowl  soft-footed  about  the  ship  where  none  stirred 
save  myself  and  the  drowsy  watch  above  deck.  None  the 
less  (and  go  where  I  would)  it  seemed  I  was  haunted  still, 
that  behind  me  lurked  a  nameless  dread,  a  silent,  unseen 
presence.  Night  after  night  I  roamed  the  ship  thus,  my 
fingers  clenched  on  the  knife  in  my  girdle,  my  ears  on  the 
strain  and  eyes  that  sought  vainly  every  dark  corner  or 
patch  of  shadow. 

At  last,  on  a  night,  as  I  crouched  beside  a  gun  on  the 
'tween-decks  I  espied  of  a  sudden  a  shape,  dim  and  im- 
palpable-seeming in  the  gloom,  that  flitted  silently  past 
me  and  up  the  ladder  to  the  deck  above.  Up  started  I, 
knife  in  hand,  but  in  my  haste  I  stumbled  over  some  ob- 
stacle and  fell;  but  up  the  ladder  I  sprang  in  pursuit, 
out  into  moonlight,  and  hastening  forward  came  face  to 
face  with  Adam. 

"  Ha  —  rogue ! "  I  cried,  and  sprang  at  him  with  up- 
lifted knife;  but  as  I  came  he  stepped  aside  (incredibly 
quick)  and  thrusting  out  a  foot,  tripped  me  sprawling. 

"  Easy,  shipmate,  easy ! "  said  he,  thrusting  a  pistol 
under  my  nose.  "  Lord  love  me,  Martin,  what  would  you 
now.?" 

"  So  you  '11  follow  me,  will  you ! "  I  panted.  "  You  '11 
creep  and  crawl  and  spy  on  me,  will  you  ?  " 

"  Neither  one  nor  t'  other,  Martin  —  " 

**  'T  was  you  climbed  the  gangway  but  now ! " 


138      Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

"  Not  I,  Martin,  not  I."  And  as  I  scowled  up  at  him  I 
knew  he  spoke  truth  and  a  new  fear  seized  me. 

"  And  you  saw  no  one,  Adam  ?  Nothing  —  no  shape 
that  flitted  up  the  ladder  hitherwards  and  no  sound  to 
it?" 

"  Never  a  thing,  Martin,  save  yourself." 

"Why,  then,'*  said  I,  clasping  my  temples  —  "whj^, 
then  —  I  'm  mad !  " 

*'  How  so,  comrade  ?  " 

"Because  I'm  followed — I'm  watched  —  spied  upon 
sleeping  and  waking !  " 

"Aye,  but  how  d'ye  know?"  he  questioned,  stooping 
to  peer  at  me. 

"I  feel  it  —  I've  known  it  for  days  past,  and  to-night 
I  saw  it  —  I  'm  haunted,  I  tell  you  —  " 

"Who  by,  shipmate?" 

"Aye!"  I  cried,  "who  is  it  —  what?  'Tis  a  thing 
that  flits  i'  the  dark  and  with  never  a  sound,  that  watches 
and  listens.  It  mounted  the  ladder  yonder  scarce  a 
moment  since  plain  to  my  sight — " 

"Yet  I  saw  nothing,  Martin.  And  not  a  soul  stirring 
save  the  watch  forward,  the  steersman  aft,  and  myself  —  " 

"  Why,  then  I  'm  verily  mad ! "   said  I. 

"  Not  you,  shipmate,  not  you.  'T  is  nought  but  the 
solitude  and  darkness ;  they  take  many  a  man  that  way, 
so  ha'  done  with  'em,  Martin !  My  lady's  offer  of  employ 
yet  holdeth  good,  so  list  with  me  as  master's  mate;  say 
but  the  word  and  —  " 

**  No  ! "  replied  I  fiercely.  "  Come  what  may,  I  take  no 
service  under  an  accursed  Brandon ! "  Saying  which,  I 
got  me  to  my  feet  and  presently  back  to  the  haunted  4ark. 

Thus  the  days  dragged  by  all  unmarked  by  me  (that 
took  no  more  heed  of  time)  for  my  fevered  restlessness 
gave  place  to  a  heaviness,  a  growing  inertia  that  gripped 
me,  mind  and  body ;  thus  when  not  lost  in  troubled  sleep  I 
would  lie  motionless,  staring  dully  at  the  dim  flame  of  the 
lanthom  or  blinking  sightless  on  the  dark. 

This  strange  sickness  (as  hath  been  said)  I  then  set 


Telleth  How  an  Eye  Watched  Me  139 

down  to  no  more  than  confinement  and  my  unwholesome 
situation,  in  the  which  supposition  I  was  very  far  beside 
the  mark,  as  you  shall  hear.  For  there  now  befell  a  thing 
that  roused  me  from  my  apathy  once  and  for  all,  and 
thereby  saved  me  from  miserably  perishing  and  others 
with  me,  and  the  manner  of  it  thus  : 

On  a  time  as  I  lay  'twixt  sleep  and  wake,  my  glance  (  and 
for  no  reason  in  the  world)  chanced  upon  that  knot-hole 
in  the  opposite  bulkhead,  the  which  (as  already  told)  I 
had  wrought  into  the  likeness  of  a  great  eye.  Now,  as  I 
stared  at  it,  the  thing  seemed,  all  at  once,  to  grow  in- 
stinct with  life  and  to  stare  back  at  me.  I  continued  to 
view  it  (dully  enough)  until  little  by  little  I  became  aware 
of  something  strange  about  it,  and  then  as  I  watched  this 
(that  was  no  more  than  a  knot-hole)  the  thing  winked  at 
me.  Thinking  this  but  some  wild  fancy  or  a  trick  of  the 
light  I  lay  still,  watching  it  beneath  my  lowered  lids,  and 
thus  I  suddenly  caught  the  glitter  of  the  thing  as  it  moved 
and  knew  it  for  a  very  bright,  human  eye  that  watched  me 
through  the  knot-hole.  Now  this  may  seem  a  very  small 
matter  in  the  telling,  but  to  me  at  that  moment  (over- 
wrought by  my  long  sojourn  in  the  dark)  it  was  vastly 
otherwise. 

For  maybe  a  full  minute  the  eye  stared  at  me,  fixed  and 
motionless  and  with  a  piercing  intensity,  then  suddenly 
was  gone,  and  I  lying  there,  my  flesh  a-tingle,  my  heart 
quick-beating  in  a  strange  terror  so  that  I  marvelled  to 
find  myself  so  shaken.  Leaping  up  in  sudden  fierce  anger 
I  wrenched  open  the  door  and  rushed  forth,  only  to  fall 
headlong  over  some  obstacle ;  and,  lying  there  bruised  and 
dazed,  heard  the  soft  thud  and  scamper  of  rats  in  the 
dark  hard  by.  So  I  got  me  back  to  my  bunk  and,  lying 
there,  fell  to  a  gloomy  reflection.  And  the  more  I  thought, 
the  fiercer  grew  my  anger  that  any  should  dare  so  to  spy 
upon  me. 

Thus  it  was  in  one  of  my  blackest  humours  that  Godby 
found  me  when,  having  set  down  the  victuals  he  had 
brought,  he  closed  the  crazy  door  and  seated  himself  on 


140     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

the  cask  that  serv/ed  me  as  chair  and  bent  to  peer  at  me 
where  I  lay. 

"Mart'n,"  said  he,  speaking  almost  in  a  whisper,  "be 
ye  awake  at  last?  "  For  answer  I  cursed  him  heartily. 
"  Avast,  pal !  "  said  he,  shaking  his  head.  "  Look  'ee, 
Mart'n,  't  is  in  my  mind  the  devil 's  aboard  this  ship  — " 

"  And  what  then  ?  "  I  demanded  angrily.  "  Am  I  a 
raree  show  to  be  peeped  at  and  watched  and  spied  upon  ?  " 

"  Anan,  pal  —  watched,  d'  ye  say  ?  " 

"Aye,  stared  at  through  the  knot-hole  yonder  a  while 
since  by  you  or  Penfeather." 

"  Never  knowed  there  was  a  knot-hole,  Mart'n,"  said 
he  in  the  same  hushed  voice  and  staring  at  the  thing,  "  and 
as  for  Cap'n  Adam,  he  aren't  been  anigh  you  this  two 
days.  But  'tis  all  one,  pal,  all  one  —  this  ship  do  be 
haunted.  And  as  for  eyes  a-watching  of  ye,  Mart'n,  who 
should  it  be  but  this  here  ghost  as  walketh  the  ship  o' 
nights  and  makes  away  wi'  good  men." 

"How  d'ye  mean.'"'  I  questioned,  reaching  for  the  ale 
he  had  brought.    "  What  talk  is  this  of  ghosts  ?  " 

"  What 's  yon .?  "  he  whispered,  starting  up,  as  a  rus- 
tling sounded  beyond  the  door. 

"  Mere  rats,  man !  " 

"Lord  love  ye,  Mart'n,"  said  he,  glancing  about  him, 
**  't  is  a  chancy  place  this.  I  don't  know  how  ye  can  abide 
it  —  " 

"  I  've  known  worse ! "   said  I. 

"Then  ye  don't  believe  in  spectres,  Mart'n  —  ghosts, 
pal,  nor  yet  phantoms  ?  " 

"No,  I  don't!" 

**Well,  Mart'n,  there  be  strange  talk  among  the  crew 
o'  something  as  do  haunt  the  'tween-decks  — " 

*'  Aye,  I  've  overheard  some  such  !  "  I  nodded.  "  But, 
look  ye,  I  've  haunted  the  ship  myself  of  late." 

"And  yet  you've  seen  nowt  o'  this  thing,  pal.'"' 

"  No.     What  thing  should  I  see.?  " 

"Who  knows,  Mart'n.?  But  the  sea  aren't  the  land, 
and  here  on  these  wild  wastes  o'  waters  there 's  chancy 


Telleth  How  an  Eye  Watched  Me   141 

things  beyond  any  man's  wisdom  as  any  mariner '11  —  ha, 
wha  's  yon  ? "  said  he  under  his  breath  and  whipping 
round,  knife  in  hand.  "  'T  was  like  a  shoeless  foot, 
Mart'n  —  creeping  murder  ^ —  'T  is  there  again !  "  Speak- 
ing, he  tore  open  the  door,  and  I  saw  his  knife  flash  as  he 
sprang  into  the  darkness  beyond ;  as  for  me  I  quaffed  my 
ale.  Presently  back  he  came,  clapped  to  the  door  (mighty 
careful)  and,  sinking  upon  the  upturned  cask,  mopped  at 
his  brow. 

"  Content  you,  Godby,"  said  I,  "  here  be  no  ghosts  —  " 

"  Soft,  lad  —  speak  soft !  "  he  whispered.  "  For  —  Lord 
love  3"ou,  Mart'n,  'tis  worse  than  ghosts  as  I  do  fear! 
Dog  bite  me,  pal,  here's  been  black  and  bloody  doings 
aboard  us  this  last  two  nights." 

"  How  so,  Godby?  "  I  questioned,  lowering  my  voice  in 
turn  as  I  met  his  look. 

"I  mean,  lad,  as  this  thing  —  caU  it  ghost  or  what  ye 
will  —  has  took  three  men  these  last  two  nights.  There's 
Perks  o'  Deptford,  McLean  as  hails  from  Leith  and  Tre- 
living  the  Comishman  —  three  good  men,  Mart'n  —  lost, 
vanished  —  gone !  And  oh,  pal,  wi'  never  a  mark  or  trace 
to  tell  how !  " 

"  Lost.?    D'  ye  mean  —  overboard.'' " 

"No,  Mart'n,  I  mean  —  lost!  And  each  o'  them  i'  the 
middle  watch  —  the  sleepy  hour,  Mart'n,  just  afore  dawn. 
In  a  fair  night,  pal,  wi'  a  calm  sea  —  these  men  vanish  and 
none  to  see  'em  go !  And  all  of  'em  prime  sailormen  and 
trusty.  The  which,  Mart'n,  sets  a  cove  to  wondering 
who  '11  be  next  —  " 

"  But  are  ye  sure  they  are  gone  —  " 

"  Aye,  Mart'n,  we  've  sought  'em  alow  and  aloft,  all  over 
the  ship,  save  only  this  hole  o'  youm — the  which  you 
might  ha'  known  had  ye  slept  less  —  " 

"  Have  I  slept  so  much,  then.''  " 

"  Pal,  you  've  done  little  else  since  you  came  aboard, 
seemingly.  All  yesterday,  as  I  do  know,  you  slept  and 
never  stirred  nor  took  so  much  as  bite  or  sup  —  and  I 
know,  because  while  we  was  a-tuming  out  the  hold,  a-seekin' 


142      Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

and  a-searchin',  I  come  and  took  a  look  at  ye  every  now 
and  then,  and  here 's  you  a-lyin'  like  a  dead  man  but  for 
your  snoring." 

"  Here 's  strange  thing  and  mighty  strange !  For 
until  I  came  aboard  I  was  ever  a  wondrous  light  sleeper, 
Godby  — " 

"  Why,  't  is  the  stench  o'  this  place  —  faugh !  Come 
aloft  and  take  a  mouthful  o'  good,  sweet  air,  pal." 

"You  say  you  sought  these  men  everywhere  —  even 
down  here  in  the  hold.'*" 

"  Aye,  alow  and  aloft,  every  bulkhead  and  timber  from 
trucks  to  keelson !  " 

"And  all  this  time  I  was  asleep,  Godby.'*" 

"Aye  —  like  a  log,  Mart'n." 

"  And  breathing  heavily  ?  " 

*'  Aye,  ye  did  so,  pal,  groaning  ye  might  call  it  —  aye, 
fit  to  chill  a  man's  good  blood ! " 

"  And  neither  you  nor  Adam  nor  the  others  thought  to 
search  this  dog  hole  of  mine  ?  " 

"Lord  love  ye  —  no,  Mart'n!  How  should  three  men 
hide  here.'' " 

"Three  men.^*  Aye,  true  enough!"  said  I,  clasping  my 
head  to  stay  the  rush  and  hurry  of  my  thoughts. 

"  Come  aloft,  pal,  't  is  a  fair  evening  and  the  fine  folk 
all  a-supping  in  the  great  cabin.     Come  into  the  air." 

"Yes,"  I  nodded,  "yes,  'twill  clear  my  head  and  I 
must  think,  Godby,  I  must  think.  Reach  me  my  doublet," 
said  I,  for  now  I  felt  myself  all  shivering  as  with  cold.  So 
Godby  took  up  the  garment  where  it  lay  and  held  it  out 
to  me ;  but  all  at  once  let  it  fall  and,  drawing  back,  stood 
staring  down  at  it,  and  all  with  never  a  word ;  whiles  I  sat 
crouched  upon  my  bed,  my  head  between  my  clenched 
fists  and  my  mind  reeling  beneath  the  growing  horror  of 
the  thought  that  filled  me.  And  now,  even  as  this  thought 
took  dreadful  shape  and  meaning  —  even  as  suspicion 
grew  to.certainty- — I  heard  Godby  draw  a  gasping  breath, 
saw  him  reach  a  stealthy,  fumbling  hand  behind  him  and 
open  the  door  and  then,  leaping  backwards,  he  was  swal- 


Telleth  How  an  Eye  Watched  Me   143 

lowed  in  the  dark  and,  with  a  hurry  of  stumbling  feet,  was 
gone. 

But  I  scarcely  heeded  his  going  or  the  manner  of  it,  so 
stunned  was  I  by  the  sudden  realisation  of  the  terror  had 
haunted  my  ghastly  slumbers  and  evil  wakings,  a  terror 
that  (if  my  dreadful  speculations  were  true)  was  very 
real  after  all,  a  peril  deadly  and  imminent. 

The  truth  of  which  I  now  (and  feverishly)  set  myself 
to  prove  beyond  all  doubt,  and  reached  for  the  lanthom. 
Now  in  so  doing  my  foot  caught  in  the  doublet  lying  where 
Godby  had  dropped  it  and  I  picked  it  up  out  of  the  way; 
but  as  I  lifted  it  into  the  light  I  let  it  fall  again  (even  as 
Godby  had  done)  and  now  staring  down  at  it,  felt  my 
flesh  suddenly  a-creep  for,  as  it  lay  there  at  my  feet,  I 
saw  upon  one  sleeve  a  great,  dark  stain  that  smeared  it  up 
from  wrist  to  elbow,  the  hideous  stain  of  new-spilt  blood. 


CHAPTER    XVI 

Concerning  the  Maek  of  a  Bloody  Hand  and  How 
I  Lay  in  the  Bilboes  on  Suspicion  of  Muedee 

It  was  with  an  effort  at  last  that  I  dragged  my  gaze 
from  the  hateful  thing  at  my  feet  only  to  meet  the  wide 
stare  of  that  great  eye  my  knife  had  wrought  and  (albeit 
no  human  eye  now  glittered  there),  yet  it  seemed  none  the 
less  to  watch  my  every  move  so  persistently  that  I 
snatched  off  my  neckerchief  and  pinning  it  against  the 
bulkhead  with  my  knife,  hid  the  thing  from  sight.  Which 
done,  I  spurned  my  blood-stained  doublet  into  a  comer 
and,  getting  to  hands  and  knees  with  the  light  beside  me, 
began  my  search. 

My  bunk  was  formed  of  boards  supported  by  four  up- 
ended casks  and  stretched  the  whole  length  of  my  small 
chamber;  upon  these  boards  was  a  pallet  covered  by  a 
great  blanket  that  hung  down  to  the  very  flooring;  lift- 
ing this,  I  advanced  the  lanthorn  and  so  began  to  examine 
very  narrowly  this  space  beneath  my  bed.  And  first  I  no- 
ticed that  the  flooring  hereabouts  was  free  of  dust  as  it 
had  been  new-swept,  and  presently  in  the  far  comer 
espied  a  blurred  mark  that  as  I  looked,  took  grim  form 
and  semblance ;  stooping  nearer  I  stared  at  this  in  the  full 
glare  of  the  lanthorn,  then  shrank  back  (as  well  I  might), 
for  now  I  saw  this  mark  was  indeed  the  print  of  a  great, 
bloody  hand  open  at  full  stretch.  Crouching  thus,  I  felt 
again  all  the  horror  I  had  known  in  my  dreams,  that  dread 
of  some  unseen,  haunting  presence  seeming  to  breathe  in 
the  very  air  about  me,  a  feeling  of  something  evil  that 
moved  and  crept   in  the  dark  beyond  the  door,  of  ears 


The  Mark  of  a  Bloody  Hand    145 

that  hearkened  to  my  every  move  and  eyes  that  watched 
me  unseen.  And  this  terror  waxed  and  grew  until,  hearing 
a  faint  stirring  behind  me,  I  whirled  about  in  panic  to  see 
the  neckerchief  gently  a-swing  against  the  bulkhead  where 
I  had  pinned  it;  and  though  this  was  caused  by  no  more 
than  the  motion  of  the  ship  (as  I  judged),  yet  in  my  then 
state  of  mind  I  whipped  out  my  pistol  and,  levelling  at  the 
knot-hole,  pulled  the  trigger,  whereon  was  a  mere  flash 
in  the  pan  and  no  more ;  this  of  itself  steadied  me  and,  sit- 
ting on  my  bed,  I  found  that  the  charge  had  been  withdrawn. 
Laying  by  the  useless  weapon  (for  I  had  neither  powder 
nor  ball)  I  fell  to  profound  meditation.  And  now  indeed 
many  things  were  plain;  here  (methought)  had  been  the 
ghost,  here  had  lain  the  murderer  of  three  men,  here  in 
the  one  and  only  safe  place  for  him  in  the  whole  ship, 
viz.  —  beneath  my  bed,  the  while  I  lay  there  in  drugged 
sleep.  It  would  be  simple  matter  to  steal  hither  in  my  ab- 
sence and  drug  my  food  and  would  explain  the  strange 
nausea  had  so  afflicted  me  of  late.  Here  then  I  had  the 
secret  of  my  day-long  sleeping,  my  vapours  and  black 
humours ;  here  the  explanation  of  my  evil  dreams  and 
ghastly  visions  while  Death,  in  human  guise,  crept  about 
my  couch  or  stooped  above  my  unconscious  form.  But 
(I  reasoned)  I  was  not  to  be  murdered,  since  I  was  of 
more  use  to  him  alive  than  dead  and  for  three  reasons 
(as  I  judged).  First,  that  in  his  stealthy  comings  and  go- 
ings he  might  be  mistaken  for  me  and  thus  left  alone; 
secondly,  that  dressed  in  my  habit  he  might  haply  father 
his  crimes  on  me;  and  thirdly,  that  I  (lying  here  drugged 
and  asleep)  might  afford  him  the  one  and  only  escape  from 
pursuit  and  capture.  And  yet  (thought  I)  what  manner 
of  man  (or  rather  devil)  should  this  be  who,  clad  in  my 
doublet,  could  make  away  with  three  lusty  fellows  and  no 
one  the  wiser?  Hereupon  (and  all  in  a  flash)  I  seemed  to 
see  again  the  great,  black  ship  drifting  down  on  us  in  the 
river  and  the  man  who  rowed  the  skiff  with>  the  mis- 
shapen bundle  in  the  stem  sheets  —  the  bundle  that  had 
vanished  so  inexplicably  — 


146     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

"  By  the  living  God,"  said  I  in  a  whisper,  "  here 's  an 
end  to  all  the  mystery  at  last ! "  And  so  remained  a 
great  while  sitting  motionless  on  my  bed,  being  mightily 
cast  down  and  utterly  confounded.  Rousing  myself  at 
last  I  drew  my  knife  from  the  bulkhead  and  put  out  the 
light;  then  very  cautiously  set  wide  the  door  and,  thus 
lapped  in  the  pitchy  dark  (and  mighty  thankful  for  the 
good  chain  shirt  beneath  my  jerkin),  stood  holding  my 
breath  to  listen.  But  hearing  no  more  than  the  usual  stir 
and  bustle  of  the  ship,  I  stole  forward  silent  in  my  stock- 
inged feet,  and  groping  before  me  with  my  left  hand,  the 
knife  clenched  in  my  right,  began  to  steal  towards  the 
ladder.  And  now,  despite  shirt  of  mail,  I  felt  a  cold  chill 
that  crept  betwixt  my  twitching  shoulder  blades  as  I 
went,  for  that  which  I  feared  was  more  hateful  than  any 
knife. 

Howbeit,  reaching  the  ladder,  I  got  me  to  the  orlop 
(and  mighty  thankful)  and  so  to  the  upper  deck  to  find  a 
wondrous  fair  night  breathing  a  sweet  and  balmy  air  and 
with  a  round  moon  uprising  against  a  great  plenitude  of 
stars.  The  moon  was  low  as  yet  and,  taking  advantage 
of  the  shadows,  I  got  me  into  the  gloom  of  the  mainmast 
where  the  boats  were  stowed;  and  here  (being  well  screened 
from  chance  view)  I  sat  me  down  to  drink  in  the  glory  of 
sea  and  sky,  and  to  wait  for  chance  of  speech  with  Adam. 
And  huge  joy  was  it  to  behold  these  vast  waters  as  they 
heaved  to  a  slumberous  swell  and  all  radiant  with  the 
moon's  loveliness ;  or,  gazing  aloft,  through  the  maze 
of  ropes  and  rigging,  I  marvelled  at  .the  glory  of  the 
heavens  set  with  their  myriad  starry  fires.  And,  contrast- 
ing all  this  with  the  place  of  black  horror  whence  I  had 
come,  I  fell  to  a  very  ecstasy.  And  now,  even  as  I  sat  thus 
lost  In  pleasing  wonderment,  from  the  quarter-deck  hard 
by  came  the  sweet,  throbbing  melody  of  a  lute  touched  by 
skilled  fingers  and  therewith  a  voice  richly  soft  and  plain- 
tive, yet  thrilling  with  that  strange,  vital  ring  which  had 
first  arrested  me  and  which  I  should  have  known  the  world 
over.    So  she  sang  an  air  that  I  knew  not,  yet  methought  it 


The  Mark  of  a  Bloody  Hand     147 

wondrous  sweet ;  anon  she  broke  off,  all  at  once,  and  fell  to 
singing  the  song  I  had  heard  her  sing  before  novr,  viz: 

"  A  poor  soul  sat  sighing  by  a  green  willow  tree." 

Now  as  I  hearkened,  my  gaze  bent  aloft,  the  starry 
heavens  grew  all  suddenly  blurred  and  misty  on  my  sight, 
and  I  knew  again  that  deep  yearning  for  a  life  far  differ- 
ent from  that  I  (in  my  blind  selfishness)  had  marked  out 
for  myself.  "Here  truly"  (thought  I)  "is  one  of 
Godby's  '  times  of  stars '  the  which  are  good  times,  being 
times  of  promise  for  all  that  are  blessed  with  eyes  to  see  — 
saving  only  myself  who  (though  possessing  eyes)  am  yet 
not  as  other  men,  being  indeed  one  set  apart  and  dedicated 
to  a  just  act  of  vengeance.  But  for  this,  I  too  might 
have  been  happy  perchance  and  with  a  hope  of  greater 
happiness  to  be  —  " 

Something  the  like  of  this  was  in  my  thoughts  while  the 
song  was  a-singing,  and  I  half-blinded  by  tears  that  would 
not  be  blinked  away.  Howbeit,  the  song  ending,  I  was 
aware  of  a  man's  voice  something  high-pitched  and  precise. 

"  I  vow  and  protest,  dear  madam,  't  is  rare  —  a  night 
angelic  and  an  angel  here  to  sing  us  to  an  ecstasy  — " 

"  Faith,  Joan,"  said  another  voice,  "  your  singing 
might  draw  any  man's  heart  out  of  him,  sweet  cousin  —  " 

"  And  that  is  but  bald  truth,  I  vow,  my  lady ! "  spoke 
a  third. 

"  Why,  then,  gentlemen,"  replied  she,  laughing, 
*'  here 's  an  angel  will  to  bed  ere  so  ill  a  chance  befall  you." 

Now  here  (being  minded  to  steal  a  look  upon  her)  I 
rose  and,  creeping  to  the  great  mast,  edged  myself  into 
the  shadow  and  so  beheld  one  that  crouched  there  already 
and  knew  him  for  that  same  red-headed  fellow  I  had  be- 
laboured with  the  rope's  end.  He  was  staring  up  at  the 
quarter-deck  and,  following  his  look,  I  saw  my  lady  stand 
leaning  upon  the  rail,  her  shapely  figure  outlined  against 
the  moonlight,  her  face  upraised  to  the  sky.  So  stood  she 
awhile,  the  gentlemen  beside  her  (very  brave  in  their  vel- 
vets and  new-fangled  great  periwigs )  until  came  her  maid 


148      Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

Marjorie;  then  she  sighed,  acknowledged  the  gentlemen's 
bows  and  flourishes  with  a  graceful  curtsey  and,  bidding 
them  a  laughing  "  good  night  ",  went  her  way,  her  shapely 
arm  about  Marjorie's  trim  waist.  Hereupon  the  red- 
headed fellow  uttered  a  sound  'twixt  a  sigh  and  groan  and, 
beholding  him  now  as  he  yet  stared  after  her,  I  saw  his 
face  convulse  and  a  look  in  his  eyes  as  he  tongued  his  lips 
as  made  my  very  gorge  rise,  and  I  crept  a  pace  nearer. 

"Be  that  you,  Smiler?  "  said  he,  his  gaze  still  fixed. 
"  Oh,  mate,  yon 's  a  rare,  dainty  bit  —  a  sweet  armful, 
Smiler — " 

"  Dog ! "  I  cried  in  sudden,  choking  fury.  At  this  he 
leapt  back,  hardly  escaping  my  fist. 

"  Ha  —  is  't  you  again  ?  "  cried  he,  and  with  the  words 
sprang  at  me  and  fetched  me  a  staggering  buffet  in  the 
mouth.  At  this  (forgetting  all  prudence)  I  closed  with 
him  and,  heedless  of  his  blows,  secured  the  wrestling  grip 
I  sought  and  wrenching  him  down  and  across  my  knee, 
saw  his  face  suddenly  be-splashed  with  the  blood  from  my 
cut  mouth  the  while  I  strove  to  choke  him  to  silence.  But 
he  struggled  mightily,  and  thrice  he  cried  "  murder "  in 
despite  of  me,  whereupon  the  cry  was  taken  up  here  and 
there,  until  the  very  ship  seemed  to  roar  "  murder." 

Followed  a  rush  of  feet,  a  confusion  of  voices  all  about 
me  and,  loosing  my  adversary,  I  reeled  back  to  the  mast 
under  a  rain  of  blows. 

*'  Stand  away  —  back  all ! "  cried  a  voice.  "  Gi'e  me  a 
shot  at  the  rogue ! "  and  the  muzzle  of  a  caliver  was 
thrust  into  my  face  only  to  be  dashed  aside  as  Adam 
sprang  before  me. 

*'  Hold  off ! "  said  he,  whereupon  they  shrank  back  from 
me,  one  and  all,  before  his  levelled  pistol,  and  there  came 
a  moment's  silence  wherein  I  heard  Godby  utter  a  gasp 
and,  letting  fall  the  caliver,  he  stared  at  me  agape. 
"  Here 's  no  murderer,  ye  fools ! "  said  Adam,  scowling 
round  on  them.  *'  'T  is  no  more  than  —  ha,  way  for  Sir 
Rupert  —  make  way  for  the  Captain,  there!" 

"Pray  what's  to  do.  Master  Penfeather.'' "    demanded 


The  Mark  of  a  Bloody  Hand    149 

Sir  Rupert,  hasting  forward  with  drawn  sword  and  the 
three  gentlemen  behind  him,    "What's  all  this  riot?" 

"  Nought  but  a  stowaway  rogue.  Sir  Rupert,  and  one 
beknown  to  me  in  England." 

"  Ha ! "  said  Sir  Rupert,  stroking  a  curl  of  his  great 
peruke.     "How  cometh  he  brawling  with  the  watch?" 

"Look'ee,  my  masters,"  cried  the  red-headed  fellow 
(gasping  and  making  great  to-do  of  gurgling  and  clasp- 
ing his  throat  where  I  had  squeezed  him),  "look'ee, 
sirs,  at  my  bloody  face  —  all  bloodied  I  be  and  nigh  done 
for  by  yon  murdering  rogue.  Here 's  me  on  my  watch 
and  no  thought  o'  harm,  and  suddenly  out  o'  nowhere  he 
takes  him  and  grips  me  from  behind  and  would  ha'  mur- 
dered me  as  he  murdered  t'  others ! " 

"  Ha ! "  cried  Sir  Rupert,  "  the  man  reeks  blood, 
observe.  Master  Penfeather,  and  here 's  grave  charge 
beside ! " 

Now  as  I  leaned  there  against  the  mast  I  saw  a  figure 
flit  down  the  quarter  ladder  and  fain  would  have  fled,  yet, 
seeing  this  vain,  hung  my  head  and  cowered  in  a  very 
agony  of  mortified  pride. 

"And  you  know  this  man,  you  say,  Master  Adam?" 
questioned  Sir  Rupert. 

"  Aye,  I  do,  sir,  for  a  desperate  fellow,  and  so  doth  my 
Lady  Brandon  —  and  yourself  also." 

"Ha?  Bring  him  forward  where  I  may  get  look  of 
him."  The  which  being  done,  Sir  Rupert  starts  back  with 
sword  point  raised. 

**  By  Heaven !  "  he  cried.  "  How  cometh  this  fellow 
aboard?  " 

"A  stowaway,  as  I  said,  sir,"  quoth  Adam.  "You 
mind  him  very  well,  it  seemeth," 

*'Aye,  verily!"  said  Sir  Rupert,  tapping  me  lightly 
with  his  sword  as  I  stood  between  my  captors.  "Ha  — 
You  're  the  rogue  stood  i'  the  pillory  ! " 

"  Aye ! "  I  nodded,  scowling  at  his  dainty  person. 
"  And  you  're  the  one  that  set  me  there ! " 

"  'T  is  a  rogue  ingrain,"   said  Sir  Rupert,  frowning  in 


150     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

turn.  "  Oh,  a  very  desperate  fellow,  as  you  say.  Master 
Adam,  and  like  enough  the  murderer  we  are  seeking  — " 
Hereupon  I  laughed  and  was  kicked  (unseen)  therefor 
by  Adam. 

"  My  lady !  "  said  he,  turning  where  she  stood  hard  by, 
"you  have  seen  this  fellow,  I  think  — " 

"  Yes,"  answered  she  readily,  "  and  indeed,  Cousin 
Rupert,  I  know  more  of  this  —  of  him  than  you  do  and 
very  sure  am  I  he  is  no  murderer  —  nor  ever  will  be!" 
Here  for  a  moment  her  glance  rested  on  me  and,  meeting 
that  look,  I  forgot  my  wounded  vanity  and  degradation 
awhile. 

"  Sweet  my  lady,"  said  Sir  Rupert,  "  your  gentle 
woman's  heart  may  not  brook  scenes  the  like  of  this.  Go 
seek  thy  tender  pillow  and  leave  such  to  us  of  sterner 
mould  —  " 

"Nay,  cousin,  my  gentle  woman's  heart  knoweth  in- 
nocence from  guilt,  methinks,  and  here  standeth  innocent 
man,  stowaway  though  he  be." 

"Why,  then,  as  stowaway  will  I  entreat  him,  fair 
cousin.  Master  Penfeather,  clap  him  in  irons  till  the 
morning,  away  with  him  —  nay,  I  myself  will  see  him 
safely  lodged."  Here,  and  without  further  parley,  I  was 
led  below,  watched  by  the  whole  ship's  company,  and  so  to 
a  dismal  place  abaft  the  lazarette  where  the  armourer, 
Master  Taffery,  duly  locked  me  into  the  manacles  (arm 
and  leg)  beneath  the  eyes  of  Penfeather  and  Sir  Rupert 
who,  seeing  me  thus  secure,  presently  left  me  to  darkness 
and  my  solitary  reflections. 

Howbeit,  after  some  while  I  heard  the  sound  of  key 
turning  and  Adam  reentered,  bearing  a  light;  having 
locked  the  door  on  us,  he  set  down  the  lanthorn  on  the 
floor  and,  seating  himself  on  the  bench  whereto  I  was 
shackled  falls  into  a  passion  of  cursing  both  in  English, 
Spanish  (and  Indian  for  aught  I  know),  for  never  had  I 
heard  the  like  words  or  such  deep  fervour. 

"Adam,"  said  I  (he  being  at  a  pause),  "'tis  hard  to 
think  you  were  ever  a  student  of  divinity ! " 


The  Mark  of  a  Bloody  Hand    151 

Hereupon  he  glanced  at  me  from  the  corners  of  his  eyes 
and  shook  his  head. 

*' Your  face  is  bloody,  Martin ;  are  ye  hurt?  " 

"  My  belly  's  empty,  Adam." 

"Why,  I  guessed  as  much.  Godby's  bringing  ye  the 
wherewithal  to  fill  it.  In  the  meantime  I  '11  free  you  o'  your 
bilboes  awhile,  though  I  must  lock  you  up  again  that  you 
may  be  found  snug  and  secure  in  the  morning."  So  saying, 
he  took  a  key  from  his  pocket  and  therewith  set  me  at 
liberty.  *'Ah,  Martin,"  quoth  he,  as  I  stretched  myself, 
"  why  must  ye  go  a-raising  of  tumults  above  deck  under  our 
very  noses  ?  Here  's  a  mighty  ill  plight  you  've  got  yourself 
into,  and  here's  me  a-wondering  how  I  am  to  get  ye  out 
again.  Here's  been  murder  done  and,  look  'ee,  this  cox- 
combly  captain  hath  got  it  into  his  skull  that  you  're  the 
murderer  —  aye,  and  what 's  worse,  every  soul  aboard  like- 
wise save  only  Godby  and  myself  —  " 

"  And  my  lady ! "  said  I. 

"  True,  shipmate,  true !  She  spoke  for  ye,  as  I  guessed 
she  might." 

"  And  how  should  you  guess  this,  Adam?  " 

"By  adding  one  and  one,  Martin.  But  even  so,  com- 
rade, even  though  she  stand  by  you  —  what  can  she  do  or 
Godby  and  I  for  that  matter  'gainst  a  whole  ship's  com- 
pany crazed  wi'  panic  fear  —  fear,  aye,  and  small  wonder, 
Martin!  Death  is  bad  enough,  murder's  worse,  but  for 
three  hearty  fellows  to  disappear  and  leave  no  trace  — " 

"Aye,  but  was  there  no  trace,  Adam?" 

"  None,  shipmate,  none ! " 

"No  blood  anywhere?" 

"  Never  a  spot,  shipmate ! " 

"  Why,  then,  is  there  ever  a  man  aboard  with  a  wounded 
hand,  Adam?" 

"  Not  one  to  my  knowing,  and  I  've  turned  up  the  crew 
on  deck  twice  these  last  two  days  —  every  man  and  boy, 
but  saw  not  so  much  as  cut  finger  or  stained  garment 
among  'em — and  I've  sharp  eyes,  Martin.  But  why 
d'ye  ask?" 


152     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

"Because  the  man  who  made  away  with  these  three 
fellows  was  wounded  in  the  hand,  Adam,  —  howbeit  that 
hand  was  bloody." 

*'Hand,  shipmate,"  said  Penfeather  softly;  "would  it 
be  a  right  hand  —  ha  ?  " 

"  It  was ! "  I  nodded.  "  The  mark  of  a  great  right 
hand." 

"  Aye,  aye ! "  said  Adam,  pinching  his  chin.  "  A  right 
hand,  Martin.     And  where  was  the  mark,  d'ye  say?" 

"  Beneath  my  bed." 

*'  Bed,  Martin  —  your  bed !  "  Here  he  caught  his 
breath  and  rose  up  and  stood  looking  down  at  me  betwixt 
narrowed  lids  and  a-pinching  at  his  square  chin. 

*'Aye  —  there,  Adam  —  the  only  place  in  the  ship  you 
never  thought  to  search  —  there  he  lay  safe  hid  and  I 
above  him  in  a  drugged  sleep." 

"Drugged!"  said  Adam,  betwixt  shut  teeth.  "Aye — 
drugged  —  crass  fool  that  I  was  not  to  ha'  guessed  it  ere 
this  —  "  And  now  he  fell  silent  and  stood  very  still,  only  his 
sinewy  fingers  pinched  and  pinched  at  his  chin  as  he  stared 
blindly  down  at  the  floor.  So  now  I  told  him  of  my 
fevered  dreams  and  black  imaginations,  of  my  growing 
fears  and  suspicions,  of  the  eye  had  watched  me  through 
the  knot-hole  and  of  the  man  on  the  river  with  the  boat, 
wherein  was  the  great  misshapen  bundle  which  had  van- 
ished just  after  the  black  ship  ran  foul  of  us. 

**  Lord ! "  said  Adam  at  last.  *'  So  the  mystery  is  re- 
solved !  The  matter  lies  plain  as  a  pikestaff.  Ha,  Martin, 
we  've  shipped  the  devil  aboard,  it  seems ! " 

"Who  weareth  a  steel  hook,  Adam!" 

*'And  yet,  Martin,  and  yet,"  said  he,  looking  at  me 
from  the  corners  of  his  eyes,  "herein,  if  we  seek  far 
enough,  we  may  find  the  hand  of  Providence,  I  think  — " 

"How?"  said  I,  "Providence,  d'ye  call  it?" 

"Aye,  Martin — ^if  we  do  but  seek  far  enough!"  Here 
he  turned  in  answer  to  a  furtive  rapping  and,  opening 
the  door,  I  heard  Godby's  voice.  "  Come  in,  man,  come 
in,"  called  Adam ;  "  here 's  only  Martin  —  " 


The  Mark  of  a  Bloody  Hand    153 

"Aye,"  quoth  I  heartily,  "come  in,  God-be-here 
Jenkins  that  was  my  friend."  At  this  in  he  comes  unwil- 
lingly enough  and  with  never  so  much  as  a  glance  in  my 
direction. 

"  Here 's  the  wittles,  Cap'n,"  said  he  and,  setting  down 
the  food  and  drink  he  had  brought,  turned  away. 

"  What,  Godby,  ha'  ye  no  word  for  a  poor  murderer  in 
his  abasement? "  says  I.  Whereat  he  shook  his  head 
mighty  gloomy  and  keeping  his  gaze  averted.  As  for 
Adam,  he  stood  pinching  his  chin  the  while  his  quick, 
bright  eyes  darted  from  one  to  other  of  us. 

"How,  are  ye  going  and  never  a  word?"  quoth  I  as 
Godby  crossed  to  the  door. 

"  Aye,  I  am ! "  said  he,  with  gaze  still  averted. 

"  Why,  you  left  me  in  mighty  hurry  last  time,  Godby." 

"Aye,  I  did!" 

"Why,  then,  tell  us  wherefore — ' speak  out,  man." 

"Not  I,  Mart'n,  not  I!"  and,  touching  his  bonnet  to 
Penfeather,  Godby  hasted  away. 

"  Ha ! "  said  Adam,  closing  and  locking  the  door. 
"And  what's  the  riddle,  Martin?" 

"My  doublet.  Godby,  chancing  to  take  it  up,  finds  it 
all  a-smear  with  blood  and  incontinent  suspects  me  for 
this  black  murderer,  which  comes  hard  since  here 's  an 
end  of  Godby's  faith  and  my  friendship." 

"  Why,  look  now,  Martin,  his  suspicions  are  in  reason, 
seeing  that  what  with  drugs,  deviltries  and  what  not, 
you  've  been  mighty  strange  o'  late  and  more  unlovely 
company  than  usual,  d'  ye  see ! " 

*'  Howbeit,"  said  I,  scowling  and  reaching  for*  the  food, 
"  here 's  an  end  to  my  friendship  for  Godby.  Now  as  to 
you  —  what  d'you  say?" 

"I  think,  shipmate,  that  your  doublet  bloody  and  you 
the  grimly,  desperate,  gallowsy,  hell-fire  rogue  you  strive 
so  hard  to  appear,  Martin,  I  say  here's  enough  to  hang 
you  ten  times  over.  One  thing  is  sure,  you  must  leave 
this  ship.** 

"Not  I,  Adam!" 


154     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

"The  longboat's   astern,  victualled  and  ready  — " 

"No  matter!" 

"  'T  will  be  no  hard  matter  to  get  you  safe  away, 
Martin." 

"  Howbeit,  I  stay  here ! "  said  I,  mighty  determined. 
"  I  'm  no  murderer ! " 

"  But  you  're  a  man  to  hang,  and  hanged  you  '11  be  and 
you  can  lay  to  that,  d'ye  see?" 

"So  be  it!"  said  I. 

"  Very  fine,  shipmate,  but  as  I  was  saying,  the  longboat 
is  towing  astern,  a  good  boat  and  well  stored.  The  moon 
will  be  down  in  an  hour  —  " 

"  And  what  of  it?  "  I  demanded. 

*"Twill  be  easy  for  you  to  slip  down  from  the  stem 
gallery." 

"  Never  in  the  world !  "  quoth  I. 

"  And  as  luck  will  have  it,  Martin,  Bartlemy's  Island  — 
our  island  —  lieth  scarce  eighty  miles  southwesterly. 
Being  thither  you  shall  come  on  our  treasure  by  the  aid 
of  the  chart  I  shall  give  you  and,  leaving  the  gold,  take 
only  the  coffers  of  jewels  —  " 

"  You  waste  your  breath,  Adam ! " 

*'Then,  shipmate,  with  these  jewels  aboard  you  shall 
stand  away  for  another  island  that  beareth  south  a  day's 
sail  —  " 

*'  Look  you,  Adam,"  said  I,  clenching  my  fists,  "  once 
and  for  all,  I  do  not  leave  this  ship,  happen  what  may  —  " 

"Aye,  but  you  will,  shipmate." 

"  Ha,  d'  ye  think  to  force  me,  then  ?  " 

*'  Not  I,  Martin,  but  circumstances  shall." 

"  What  circumstances  ?  " 

Here  and  all  at  once,  Adam  started  up  as  again  there 
came  a  soft  knocking  at  the  door.  *' Who's  there?"  he 
cried.  And  then  in  my  ear,  "  'T  is  she,  Martin,  as  I 
guess,  though  sooner  than  I  had  expected,  —  into  the 
bilboes  with  you."  Thus  whispering  and  with  action  in- 
credibly quick,  he  clapped  and  locked  me  back  in  my 
shackles,  whisked  food,  platter  and  bottle  into  a  dark 


The  Mark  of  a  Bloody  Hand    155 

comer  and  crossed  to  the  door.  "Who's  there?"  he 
demanded  gruffly.  Ensued  a  murmur,  whereupon  he 
turned  the  key,  set  wide  the  door  and  fell  back  bowing, 
bonnet  in  hand,  all  in  a  moment. 

"  Good  Master  Adam !  "  said  she  gently,  "  pray  you 
leave  us  awhile  and  let  none  intrude  on  us."  At  this  Adam 
bowed  again  very  low  with  a  whimsical  glance  at  me  and 
went  out,  closing  the  door  behind  him. 


/" 


CHAPTER   XVII 

CONCEENING    THE   PeINCESS    DaMARIS 

Foe  a  while  she  stood  looking  down  on  me  and  I,  meeting 
that  look,  glanced  otherwhere  yet,  conscious  of  her  re- 
gard, stirred  uneasily  so  that  my  irons  rattled  dismally. 

"  Sir,"   said  she  at  last,  but  there  I  stayed  her. 

*'  Madam,  once  and  for  all,  I  am  no  '  sir ' ! " 

"Martin  Conisby,"  she  amended  in  the  same  gentle 
voice,  "  Master  Penfeather  telleth  me  you  refused  the 
honourable  service  I  offered  —  I  pray  you  wherefore?" 

*' Because  I  've  no  mind  to  serve  a  Brandon." 

"Yet  you  steal  aboard  my  ship.  Master  Conisby;  you 
eat  the  food  my  money  hath  paid  for!  Doth  this  suffice 
your  foolish,  stubborn  pride?"  Here,  finding  nought  to 
say,  I  scowled  at  my  fetters  and  held  my  peace,  whereat 
she  sighed  a  little,  as  I  had  been  some  fretful,  peevish 
child.  "  Why  are  you  here  in  my  ship  ?  "  she  questioned 
patiently.  *'Was  it  for  vengeance?  Tell  me,"  she  de- 
manded, "is  it  that  you  came  yet  seeking  your  wicked 
vengeance?  " 

"Mine  is  a  just  vengeance!" 

*' Vengeance,  howsoever  just,  is  God's  —  leave  it  unto 
God ! "  At  this  I  was  silent  again,  whereupon  she  con- 
tinued, her  voice  more  soft  and  pleading:  "Even  though 
my  father  had  —  indeed  —  wronged  you  and  yours  — 
how  shall  his  death  profit  you  ?  " 

"  Ha ! "  I  cried,  staring  up  at  her  troubled  face.  **  Can 
it  be  you  know  this  for  very  truth  at  last?  Are  you  sat- 
isfied of  my  wrongs  and  know  my  vengeance  just?  Have 
ye  proof  of  Sir  Richard's  black  treachery  —  confess!" 


Concerning  the  Princess  Damaris    157 

Now  at  this,  her  eyes   quailed  before  my  look  and  she 
shrank  away. 

"God  forgive  him!"  she  whispered,  bowing  stately 
head. 

"  Speak ! "  said  I  fiercely.  "  Have  ye  the  truth  of  it  at 
last?" 

"  'T  is  that  bringeth  me  here  to  you,  Martin  Conisby, 
to  confess  this  wrong  on  his  behalf  and  on  his  behalf  to 
offer  such  reparation  as  I  may.  Alas !  for  the  bodily 
sufferings  you  did  endure  we  can  never  atone,  but  —  in 
all  other  ways  —  " 

"Never!"  said  I,  scowling.  *'What  is  done — is 
done  —  and  I  am  —  what  I  am.  But  for  yourself  his  sin 
toucheth  you  no  whit." 

"How?"  cried  she  passionately.  "Am  I  not  his 
flesh  —  his  blood?  'Twas  but  lately  I  learned  the  truth 
from  his  secret  papers  —  and — oh,  'twas  all  there  — 
even  the  price  he  paid  to  have  you  carried  to  the  planta- 
tions !  So  am  I  come  pleading  your  forgiveness  for  him 
and  for  me  —  to  humble  myself  before  you  —  see  thus  — ■ 
thus,  upon  my  knees  —  " 

Now  beholding  all  the  warm  beauty  of  her  as  she  knelt 
humbly  before  me,  the  surge  and  tumult  of  her  bosom, 
the  quiver  of  her  red  lips,  the  tearful  light  of  her  eyes,  I 
was  moved  beyond  speech,  and  ever  she  knelt  there,  bowed 
and  shaken  in  her  mvite  abasement. 

"  My  Lady  Joan,"  said  I  at  last,  "  for  your  pure  self 
I  can  have  nought  to  forgive  —  I  —  that  am  all  unworthy 
to  touch  the  latchet  of  your  shoe.     Rise,  I  pray  — " 

"And  for  —  my  father?"  she  whispered.  "Alas,  my 
poor,  miserable  father  —  " 

"  Speak  not  of  him !  "  I  cried.  "  Needs  must  there  be 
hate  and  enmity  betwixt  us  until  the  end."  So  was  silence 
awhile  nor  did  I  look  up,  dreading  to  see  her  grief. 

"Your  face  is  cut,  Martin!"  said  she  at  last,  very 
softly.  "  Suffer  that  I  bathe  it."  Now  turning  in  amaze,  I 
saw  her  yet  upon  her  knees,  looking  up  at  me  despite  her 
falling  tears.      "Wilt  suffer  me  to  bathe   it,  Martin?" 


158     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

asked  she,  her  voice  unshaken  by  any  sob.  I  shook  my 
head;  but  rising  she  crossed  to  the  door  and  came  back, 
bearing  a  small  pannikin  of  water.  "I  brought  this  for 
the  purpose,"    said  she. 

"Nay  indeed,  I  —  I  am  well  enough  —  " 

*'  Then  will  I  make  you  better ! " 

**  No !  "   said  I  angrily. 

"  Yes ! "  said  she  patiently,  but  setting  dimpled  chin 
at  me. 

"And  wherefore,  madam?" 

"Because  I'm  so  minded,  sir!"  So  saying  she  knelt 
close  beside  me  and  fell  a-bathing  my  bruised  face  as  she 
would,  and  I  helpless  to  stay  her,  yet  marvelling  within 
me  at  the  gentle  touch  of  }\^r  soft  hands  and  the  tender 
pity  in  her  tear-wet  eyes.  "  Martin,"  said  she,  "  as  I 
do  thus  cherish  your  hurts,  you  shall  one  day,  mayhap, 
cherish  3'^our  enemy's  — " 

"Never!"  said  I.  "You  can  know  me  not  at  all  to 
think  so  —  " 

"I  know  you  better  than  you  guess,  Martin.  You 
think  it  strange  belike  and  unmaidenly  in  me  that  I  should 
seek  you  thus,  that  your  name  should  come  so  readily  to 
my  lip?  But  I  have  remembered  the  name  *  Martin '  for 
the  sake  of  a  boy,  long  years  since,  who  found  a  little 
maid  (she  was  just  ten  years  old),  found  her  lost  and 
wandering  in  a  wood,  very  woeful  and  frightened  and  for- 
lorn. And  this  boy  seemed  very  big  and  strong  (he  was 
just  eleven,  he  said)  and  was  armed  with  a  bow  and 
arrows  *  to  shoot  outlaws.'  And  yet  he  was  very  gentle 
and  kindly,  laying  by  his  weapons  the  better  to  comfort 
her  sorrows  and  dry  her  tears.  So  he  brought  her  to  a 
cave  he  called  his  '  castle '  and  showed  her  a  real  sword 
he  kept  hidden  there  (albeit  a  very  rusty  one)  and  said  he 
would  be  her  knight  to  do  great  things  for  her  some  day. 
Then  he  brought  her  safely  home;  and  he  told  her  his 
name  was  Martin,  and  she  said  hers  was  Damaris  — " 

"Damaris!"    said  I,  starting. 

"Often  after  this  they  used  to  meet  by  a  corner  of  the 


Concerning  the  Princess  Damans    159 

old  park  wall  where  he  had  made  a  place  to  go  up  and 
down  by — for  six  months,  I  think,  they  played  together 
daily — ^and  once  he  fought  a  great,  rough  boy  on  her 
behalf,  and  when  the  boy  had  run  away  she  bathed  her 
champion's  hurts  in  a  little  brook  —  bathed  them  with  her 
scarf  as  thus  I  do  yours.  At  last  she  was  sent  away  to  a 
school,  and  the  years  passed  but  she  never  forgot  the 
name  of  Martin,  though  he  forgot  her  quite  —  but  — 
you  —  you  remember  now,  Martin.  Oh,  you  remember 
now.'"'   said  she  with  a  great  sob. 

"  Aye,  I  remember  now !  "  quoth  I  hoarsely. 

"It  is  for  sake  of  this  boy,  Martin,  so  brave,  so 
strong,  yet  so  very  gentle  and  kindly  —  for  him  and  all 
he  might  have  been  that  I  pray  you  forego  your  ven- 
geance —  I  beseech  you  to  here  renounce  it  —  " 

"  Never !  "  I  cried,  clenching  my  shackled  hands.  "  But 
for  my  enemy  this  boy  might  now  be  as  other  men  — 
'stead  of  outcast  rogue  and  scarred  galley  slave;  he  might 
have  come  to  love  and  win  love  —  to  have  known  the  joy 
of  life  and  its  fulness !  Howbeit  he  must  go  his  way, 
rogue  and  outcast  to  the  end." 

**  No ! "  she  cried.  **  No !  The  wrong  may  be  undone  — 
must  —  shall  be  —  wounds  will  heal  and  even  scars  will 
fade  with  time." 

"Scars  of  the  body,  aye  —  belike!"  said  I.  "But 
there  be  scars  of  the  mind,  wounds  of  the  soul  shall  never 
heal  —  so  shall  my  just  vengeance  sleep  not  nor  die  whiles 
I  have  life!" 

Here  for  a  while  she  was  silent  again,  and  I  saw  a  tear 
fall  sparkling. 

"  And  yet,"  said  she  at  last  and  never  stirring  from 
her  humble  posture,  "  and  yet  I  have  faith  in  you  still 
for,  despite  all  your  cruel  wrongs  and  grievous  suffering, 
you  are  so  —  young,  headstrong  and  wilful  and  very  deso- 
late and  forlorn.  Thus  whiles  I  have  life  my  faith  in  you 
shall  sleep  not  nor  die,  yet  greatly  do  I  pity  —  " 

"  Pity  ?  "  said  I  fiercely.  "  You  were  wiser  to  hate  and 
see  me  hang  out  of  hand." 


i6o     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

"  Poor  soul ! "  she  sighed  and,  rising,  laid  one  white 
hand  upon  raj  shackled  fist.  "  And  yet  mayhap  you  shall 
one  day  find  again  your  sweet  and  long-lost  youth — 
meanwhile  strive  to  be  worthy  a  sorrowing  maid's  honest 
pity." 

"Pity?"  said  I  again.  "'Tis  akin  to  love  —  so  give 
me  hate;  'tis  thing  most  natural  'twixt  your  blood  and 
mine." 

"  Poor  soul ! "  she  repeated,  viewing  me  with  her  great, 
calm  eyes,  albeit  their  lashes  were  wet  with  tears.  "  How 
may  I  hate  one  so  wretched?  "  Here,  seeing  mayhap  how 
the  words  stung  me,  she  must  needs  repeat  them :  "  Poor, 
wretched  soul,  thou 'rt  far — far  beneath  my  hate." 

"  Belike  you  '11  come  to  learn  in  time  1 "  said  I,  beside 
myself.  At  this  I  saw  the  white  hand  clench  itself  but 
her  voice  was  tender  as  ever  when  she  answered : 

**  Sorrow  and  suffering  may  lift  a  man  to  greatness  if 
he  be  strong  of  soul  or  debase  him  to  the  brute  if  he  be 
weak." 

"Why,  then,"  said  I,  "begone  to  your  gallants  and 
leave  me  to  the  brutes." 

**  Nay,  first  will  I  do  that  which  brought  me ! "  and  she 
showed  the  key  of  my  gyves. 

"  Let  be ! "  I  cried.  '*  I  seek  no  freedom  at  your 
hands  —  let  be,  I  say ! " 

*'  As  you  will ! "  said  she  gently.  *'  So  endeth  ray  hope 
of  righting  a  great  wrong.  I  have  humbled  myself  to 
you  to-night,  Martin  Conisby.  I  have  begged  and  prayed 
you  to  forego  your  vengeance,  to  forgive  the  evil  done, 
not  so  much  for  ray  father's  sake  as  for  your  own,  and  this 
because  of  the  boy  I  drearaed  a  raan  ennobled  by  his  suffer- 
ings and  one  great  enough  to  forgive  past  wrongs,  since 
by  forgiveness  cometh  regeneration.  Here  ends  my 
dream — alas,  you  are  but  rogue  and  galley  slave,  after  all. 
So  shall  I  ever  pity  you  greatly  and  greatly  despise  you  ! " 

Then  she  turned  slowly  away  and  went  from  me,  closing 
and  locking  the  door,  and  left  rae  once  raore  in  the  black 
dark,  but  now  full  of  yet  blacker  thoughts. 


Concerning  the  Princess  Damaris    i6i 

To  be  scorned  by  her !    And  she  —  a  Brandon ! 

And  now  I  (miserable  wretch  that  I  was),  giving  no 
thought  to  the  possibihty  of  my  so  speedy  dissolution, 
raged  in  my  bonds,  wasting  myself  in  futile  imprecations 
against  this  woman  who  (as  it  seemed  to  me  in  my  blind 
and  brutish  anger)  had  but  come  to  triumph  over  me  in 
my  abasement.  Thus  of  my  wounded  self-love  did  I  make 
me  a  whip  of  scorpions  whereby  I  knew  an  agony  beyond 
expression. 


CHAPTER  XVni 

How  I  Came  Out  of  my  Bonds  and  of  the  Teueoes 

OF  A  Fire  at  Sea 

The  Devil,  ever  zealous  for  the  undoing  of  poor  Human- 
ity, surely  findeth  no  readier  ally  than  the  blind  and 
merciless  Spirit  of  Mortified  Pride.  Thus  I,  minding  the 
Lady  Joan's  scornful  look  and  the  sting  of  her  soft-spoke 
words,  fell  to  black  and  raging  fury  and  vowed  that  since 
rogue  and  galley  slave  she  had  named  me,  rogue  she  should 
find  me  in  very  truth  henceforward,  if  I  might  but  escape 
my  perilous  situation. 

And  now  it  was  that  Chance  or  Fate  or  the  Devil  sent 
me  a  means  whereby  I  might  put  this  desperate  and  most 
unworthy  resolution  into  practice;  for  scarce  had  I  ut- 
tered this  vow  when  a  key  turned  softly  in  the  lock,  the 
door  opened  and  closed  stealthily,  and  though  I  could 
not  see  (it  being  pitch-dark)  I  knew  that  some  one  stood 
within  a  yard  of  me,  and  all  with  scarce  a  sound  and  never 
a  word.  And  when  this  silence  had  endured  a  while,  I 
spoke  sudden  and  harsh: 

"What  now?  Is  it  the  noose  so  soon,  or  a  knife 
sooner  ?  '* 

I  heard  a  quick-drawn  breath,  a  soft  footfall,  and  a 
small  hand,  groping  in  the  dark,  touched  my  cheek  and 
crept  thence  to  my  helpless,  manacled  fist.  "Who  is  it?" 
I  demanded,  blenching  from  the  touch.  "Who  is  it? 
Speak ! " 

"  Hush ! "  whispered  a  voice  in  my  ear.  "  It  be  only  me, 
master.  Jimmy  —  little  Jim  as  you  was  good  to.  Red 
Andy  don't  beat  me  no  more ;  he  be  afeared  o'  you.  Good 
to  me  you  was,  master,  an'  so's  she  —  took  me  to  be  her 
page,  she  'ave  —  " 


How  I  Came  Out  of  My  Bonds    163 

"Whom  d'you  mean,  boy?" 

"  I  mean  Her !  Her  wi'  the  beautiful,  kind  ejxs  an' 
little  feet !  Her  as  sings  !  Her  they  calls  '  my  lady  '  — 
Her!  Good  t'me  she  is  —  an'  so's  you,  so  I  be  come  to 
ye,  master  —  " 

"Ha  —  did  she  send  you?" 

"No,  I  just  come  to  save  you  from  being  hung  to- 
morrow like  they  says  you  must." 

"And  how  shall  you  do  this,  boy?" 

"First  wi'  this  key,  master  —  " 

"  Stay !    Did  she  give  you  this  key?  " 

"  No,  master  —  I  took  it !  "  So  albeit  't  was  very  dark, 
the  boy  very  soon  had  freed  me  of  my  shackles ;  which  done 
(and  all  a-quiver  with  haste),  he  seized  my  hand  and 
tugged  at  it. 

"  Come  master !  "  he  whispered.  "  This  way  —  this 
way ! " 

So  with  his  little,  rough  hand  in  mine  I  suffered  him 
to  bring  me  whither  he  would  in  the  dimness,  for  not  a 
lanthom  burned  anywhere,  until  at  last  he  halted  me  at 
a  ladder  propped  against  a  bulkhead  and,  mounting  be- 
fore, bade  me  follow.  Up  I  climbed  forthwith  and  so  to 
a  narrow  trap  or  scuttle  through  which  I  clambered  with 
no  little  to-do,  and  found  myself  in  a  strange  place,  the 
roof  so  low  I  could  barely  sit  upright  and  so  straight 
that  I  might  barely  lie  outstretched. 

"  Lie  you  here,  master !  "  he  whispered.  "  And  for  the 
love  o'  God  don't  speak  nor  make  a  sound ! "  Saying 
which,  he  got  him  back  through  the  scuttle,  closing  the 
trap  after  him,  and  I  heard  the  clatter  of  the  ladder  as 
he  removed  it. 

Hereupon,  lying  snug  in  my  hiding  place,  I  presently 
became  aware  of  a  sweetness  that  breathed  upon  the  air, 
a  fragrance  very  faint  but  vastly  pleasing  and  fell  a-won- 
dering  what  this  should  be.  My  speculations  were  ban- 
ished by  the  opening  of  a  door  near  by,  and  a  light 
appeared  by  which  I  saw  myself  lying  in  a  narrow  space 
shut  off  by  a  valance  or  curtain  that  yet  showed  a  strip  of 


164      Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

carpet  beyond,  and  all  at  once  upon  this  carpet  came  a 
little,  buckled  shoe.  I  was  yet  staring  on  this  in  dumb 
amaze  when  a  voice  spoke  softly: 

"Are  you  there,  Martin  Conisby?  Hush,  speak  low, 
I  do  command  you !  " 

For  answer  I  dragged  myself  into  the  light  and  stared 
up  at  the  Lady  Joan  Brandon. 

"Where  am  I?"   I  demanded. 

"  In  my  cabin,"  said  she,  meeting  my  scowl  with  eyes 
serene  and  all  untroubled.  "I  had  you  brought  hither  to 
save  you  —  " 

"To  save  me!     Ha,  you  —  you  to  save  me  —  " 

"Because  you  are  not  man  enough  to  die  yet,"  she 
went  on  in  her  calm,  grave  voice ;  "  so  I  will  save  you 
alive  that  haply  you  may  grow  more  worthy  —  " 

"  So  't  was  by  your  orders  ?  The  boy  lied  then ! "  said 
I,  choking  with  my  anger,  "  'T  was  you  gave  him  the  key ! 
'Twas  you  bade  him  bring  me  hither — " 

"  Where  none  shall  dare  seek  you ! "  answered  she,  all 
unmoved  by  my  bitter  rage.  "  So  do  I  give  you  life, 
Martin  Conisby,  praying  God  you  may  find  your  manhood 
one  day  —  " 

"Life!"  quoth  I,  getting  to  my  feet.  "My  life  at 
your  hands?  Now  look  ye,  madam,  rather  will  I  hang 
unjustly,  rather  will  I  endure  again  the  shame  of  the 
lash  —  aye,  by  God's  light,  rather  will  I  rot  in  chains  or 
perish  of  plague  —  than  take  my  life  at  your  hands.  So 
now,  madam,  I  'U  out  o'  this  perfumed  nest  and  hang  if  T 
must!"  saying  which  I  turned  to  the  door,  but  she 
checked  me  with  a  gesture. 

"Stay!"  she  commanded.  "Would  you  shame  me?" 
And  now,  though  she  fronted  me  with  proud  head  erect, 
I  saw  her  cheek  flush  painfully. 

"  Aye,  verily ! "  quoth  I.  "  A  lady's  honour  is  delicate 
ware  and  not  to  be  cheapened  by  such  poor  rogue  as  I! 
Fear  nothing,  lady,  I  will  go  as  — "  I  stopped  all  at 
once,  as  came  footsteps  without  and  a  light  tapping  at 
the  door. 


How  I  Came  Out  of  My  Bonds    165 

"Who  is  it?"  she  called,  lightly  enough,  and  shot  the 
bolt  with  nimble  fingers. 

"  Only  I,  sweet  coz,"  answered  a  gay  voice.  "  And  I 
come  but  to  warn  you  not  to  venture  on  deck  to-morrow 
tin  justice  hath  been  done  upon  our  prisoner." 

"  Shall  you  —  hang  him,  Rupert  ?  " 

"  Assuredly !  'T  is  a  black  rogue  and  merits  a  worse 
fate." 

"Is  he  then  tried  and  condemned  already,  Rupert?" 

"  Nay,  though  't  will  be  soon  done.  We  have  come  on 
such  evidence  of  his  guilt  as  doth  condemn  him  out  of 
hand." 

"  What  evidence,  cousin?  " 

"  His  doublet  all  besmirched  with  his  victims'  blood. 
The  man  is  a  very  devil  and  must  hang  at  dawn.  So, 
Joan,  stir  not  abroad  in  the  morning  until  I  come  to 
fetch  you.  A  fair,  good  night,  sweet  coz,  and  sweet 
dreams  attend  thee ! "  And  away  trips  Sir  Rupert  and 
leaves  us  staring  on  one  another,  she  proud  and  gracious 
in  all  lier  dainty  finery  and  I  a  very  hang-dog  fellow,  my 
worn  garments  smirched  by  the  grime  of  my  many  hiding 
places. 

"  Was  this  indeed  your  doublet  ? "  she  questioned  at 
last. 

"  It  was." 

"How  came  it  stained  with  blood?"  For  answer  I 
shrugged  my  shoulders  and  turned  away.  "  Have  you 
nothing  to  say?" 

"  Nothing,  madam." 

"You  would  have  me  think  you  this  murderer?" 

*'I  would  have  you  think  of  me  none  at  all,"  I  an- 
swered, and  smiled  to  see  how  I  had  stirred  her  anger  at 
last. 

"Nay,"  sighed  she,  "needs  must  I  think  of  you  as  the 
poor  mean  thing  you  are  and  pity  you  accordingly ! " 

"  Howbeit,"  said  I,  scowling  blacker  than  ever,  "  I  will 
get  me  out  of  your  sight  —  " 

"  Aye,  but  the  ladder  is  gone ! " 


1 66     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

*'  No  matter,"  said  I,  "  better  a  broken  neck  to-night 
than  a  noose  to-morrow.  To-morrow,  aye,  the  dawn  is 
like  to  see  an  end  of  the  feud  and  the  Conisbys  both  to- 
gether—  " 

"  And  so  shameful  an  end ! "  said  she.  At  this,  I  turned 
my  back  on  her,  for  anger  was  very  strong  in  me.  So, 
nothing  speaking,  I  got  to  my  knees  that  I  might  come  at 
the  trap  beneath  her  berth ;  but  next  moment  I  was  on  my 
feet,  glaring  round  for  some  weapon  to  my  defence,  for  on 
the  air  was  sudden  wild  tumult  and  hubbub,  a  running  of 
feet  and  confused  shouting  that  waxed  ever  louder.  Then, 
as  I  listened,  I  knew  it  Was  not  me  they  hunted,  for  now 
was  the  shrill  braying  of  a  trumpet  and  the  loud  throb- 
bing of  a  drum. 

*'  Martin — oh,  Martin  Conisby ! "  She  stood  with  hands 
clasped  and  eyes  wide  in  a  dreadful  expectancy.  "  What 
is  it?"  she  panted.  "Oh,  what  is  it?  Hark  —  what  do 
they  cry!" 

Rigid  and  motionless  we  stood  to  listen;  then  every 
other  emotion  was  'whelmed  and  lost  in  sudden,  paralys- 
ing fear  as,  above  the  trampling  rush  of  feet,  above  the 
shrill  blast  of  tucket  and  rolling  of  drum,  we  caught  the 
awful  word  "Fire!" 

*'  Now,  God  help  us  all ! "  cried  she,  wringing  her 
hands;  then  sinking  to  her  knees,  she  leaned,  half-swooning, 
against  the  door,  yet  I  saw  her  pallid  lips  moving  in  pas- 
sionate supplication. 

As  for  me  (my  first  panic  over)  I  sat  me  on  her  bed 
revolving  how  I  might  turn  the  general  confusion  to  the 
preserx'^ation  of  my  life.  In  this  I  was  suddenly  aroused 
by  my  lady's  hand  on  my  bowed  shoulder. 

"  Hark ! "  cried  she.     *'  Hark  where  they  cry  for  aid ! " 

"  Why,  so  they  do,'*  said  I.     "  And  so  they  may ! " 

*'  Then  come,  let  us  out.  You  are  a  strong  man,  you 
will  help  to  save  the  ship — " 

"And  hang  thereafter?     Not  I,  madam!" 

"  Will  you  do  nothing?  "  cried  she,  clenching  her  hands. 

"Verily,  madam.     I  shall  do  my  earnest  endeavour  to 


How  I  Came  Out  of  My  Bonds    167 

preser\'e  this  poor  rogue's  body  o'  mine  from  noose  and 
flame.     But  as  for  the  ship  —  let  it  bum,  say  I." 

"  Spoke  like  a  very  coward ! "  said  she  in  bitter  scorn. 
"  And  a  coward  is  selfish  always."  So  saying,  she  crossed 
to  the  door  and  reached  her  hand  to  the  bolt;  but  in  a 
leap  I  was  beside  her  and  caught  this  hand,  prisoning  it 
there. 

"  Hark  'ee,  madam !  "  quoth  I.  "  You  tell  me  that  to 
hang  is  a  shameful  death,  and  the  noose  is  as  good  as  round 
my  neck.  But,  before  God,  madam,  I  '11  see  this  ship  go 
up  in  flame  and  perish  with  it  ere  that  noose  shall  strangle 
the  life  out  o'  me  and  my  wrongs  unavenged.  So  the 
ship  may  bum  an'  it  will.  Meantime  do  you  seek  your 
salvation  and  leave  me  to  seek  mine !  "  Then  opening  the 
door  I  stood  aside  to  give  her  way;  instead  she  stood  a 
moment  looking  on  me  great-eyed. 

"  Oh,  blind !  "  said  she  at  last.  "  To  treasure  life  for 
your  wicked  vengeance !  Oh,  blind,  blind ! "  Then,  and 
very  suddenl}^,  she  sped  out  and  away. 

Left  alone,  I  stood  hearkening  to  the  distant  uproar 
and  casting  about  in  my  mind  how  best  I  might  contrive 
my  preservation.  And  now  in  my  desperate  need  it 
seemed  there  was  but  one  hope  for  me  and  this  but  slender, 
viz:  to  steal  myself  up  to  Adam's  lodgment  under  the 
poop  and  that  as  soon  as  might  be.  To  this  end  I  stepped 
forth  of  the  cabin  and  so  into  a  narrow  passageway  with 
divers  doors  to  right  and  left  that  opened  upon  other 
cabins,  in  one  of  which  I  espied  a  cloak  and  feathered  hat 
lying  where  their  owner  had  dropped  them.  Whipping 
the  cloak  about  me,  I  clapped  on  the  hat  and,  staying  for 
no  more,  hasted  on,  breathing  an  air  acrid  with  drifting 
smoke.  Reaching  a  broad  stairway  I  climbed  at  speed 
and  found  myself  out  upon  the  lofty  poop  whence  I 
might  look  down  on  the  decks  through  a  haze  of  smoke 
that  poured  up  through  the  after  hatchway,  mounting  in 
billowy  wreaths  against  the  splendour  of  the  moon.  Here 
it  seemed  was  gathered  the  whole  ship's  company  with 
mighty  stir  and  to-do  and  none  with  eyes  to  spare  for  me. 


1 68     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

Howbeit,  I  stayed  for  no  second  glance  but,  running  to 
Adam's  cabin,  found  the  door  unlocked,  the  which  I  closed 
after  me,  in  the  doing  of  which  I  noticed  (to  my  comfort) 
that  this  door  was  mighty  thick  and  strong  and  in  it  more- 
over a  loophole  newly  cut,  with  others  in  the  bulkheads  to 
right  and  left  and  all  very  neatly  plugged  from  within ; 
and  what  with  this  and  the  musquetoons  that  stood  in 
racks  very  orderly,  the  place,  small  though  it  was,  had  all 
the  virtues  of  a  fort  or  citadel.  Here  then,  so  far  as  might 
be,  I  was  safe  whatever  chanced,  since  I  had  but  to  lift  the 
trap  in  the  floor  and  descend  into  the  roundhouse  below 
whence  I  might  gain  the  stem  gallery  and  so  the  sea  it- 
self. And  now,  laying  by  the  hat  and  cloak,  I  cast  myself 
on  Adam's  bed  and  there  outstretched  in  great  content, 
hearkening  to  the  distant  voices  and  tramp  of  feet  where 
they  laboured  to  put  out  the  fire. 

Little  by  little  these  sounds  became  merged  with  the 
droning  of  the  wind  and  the  never-ceasing  surge  and  hiss 
of  the  seas ;  lulled  by  this  and  the  sense  of  my  comparative 
safety,  I  presently  fell  a-slumbering.  And  sleeping  thus, 
dreamed  myself  young  again  and  playing  with  the  child 
Damaris,  thrilling  to  the  clasp  of  her  little,  childish  hands, 
joying  in  the  tones  of  her  clear,  sweet  child-voice,  —  she 
that  grown-up  I  knew  for  none  other  than  Joan  Brandon. 

"  Lord  love  me,  shipmate,  here  's  you  to  hang  at  peep 
o'  day  and  a-smiling  in  your  dreams ! " 

"What  —  Adam!"    said  I,  sitting  up. 

**In  few  short  hours,  Martin,  here  will  be  ninety  odd 
souls  earnestly  seeking  to  swing  you  up  to  the  mainyard, 
and  you  a-slumbering  sweet  as  any  innocent  babe,  and 
bum  me,  shipmate,  I  love  you  the  better  for 't ! " 

"What  o'  the  fire,  Adam?" 

"Why,  'twas  an  excellent  fire,  Martin,  and  smoked 
bravely !  What 's  more,  it  serv'ed  its  divers  purposes 
whiles  it  lasted." 

"Is  it  out  then,  Adam.?" 

"This  two  hours." 


How  I  Came  Out  of  My  Bonds    169 

*'  And  what  might  you  mean  by  its  purposes  ?  " 

"  Well,  mayhap  you  were  one  o'  them,  Martin.  Here 's 
the  second  time  fire  hath  served  ye  well,  you  '11  mind." 

"  How !  '*  I  cried,  starting  to  my  feet.  "  Will  you  be 
telling  me  'twas  you  set  this  fire  going?  " 

"As  to  the  other  purpose,  shipmate,  'tis  yonder  — 
hark  to  it ! "  And  smiling  grimly,  Adam  held  up  a  sinewy 
finger  as,  from  somewhere  forward,  rose  a  confused  and 
dismal  wailing. 

"In  Heaven's  name,  what's  toward  now,  Adam.'"' 

*'  The  crew  are  singing,  Martin,  likewise  they  dance ; 
presently  they  shall  fall  a-quarrelling,  then  grow  pot- 
valiant,  all  in  regular  and  accepted  order.  Already  one 
poor  rogue  hath  been  aft  to  demand  the  women  of  us, 
d'ye  see,  and — " 

"  To  demand  the  women ! "  said  I  in  gasping  aston- 
ishment. 

"  Aye,  the  women,  Martin  —  my  Lady  Joan  and  her 
maid,  d'ye  see." 

"  God's  love,  Adam !  "  I  cried,  gripping  his  arm.  **  And 
you  —  what  said  you  to  the  vile  dog?  " 

"Nought!    I  shot  him!" 

"  Is  the  mutiny  broke  out,  then  ?  " 

*'  Not  yet,  shipmate,  but  't  is  coming,  aye,  't  is  com- 
ing, which  is  very  well  —  " 

"And  what  hath  brought  things  to  this  pass?" 

**  Rum,  Martin !  The  fire  was  in  the  storeroom  where 
there  is  rum  a-plenty,  d'ye  see,  and  what  was  to  prevent 
the  rogues  making  off  with  a  keg  or  so  that  chanced  to  lie 
handy  —  not  I,  shipmate,  not  I !  " 

"  And  why  not,  in  the  Devil's  name  ?  " 

"  Because,  Martin,"  said  Adam,  sitting  at  the  table  and 
beginning  to  set  his  papers  in  order,  "  because  there 's 
nought  like  liquor  for  putting  the  devil  into  a  man,  and 
of  all  liquor  commend  me  to  rum  with  a  dash  o'  tobacco 
or  gunpowder,  d'  ye  see.  We  shall  be  heaving  dead  men 
overboard  ere  dawn,  I  judge,  and  all  along  o'  this  same 
rum,  Martin.     Black  mutiny,  murder  and  sudden  death. 


lyo     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

shipmate,  and  more  's  the  pity,  say  I.  But  if  Providence 
seeth  fit,  why  so  be  it." 

*'  Providence ! "  quoth  I,  scowhng  down  into  his  im- 
•passive  face.  "Dare  ye  talk  of  Providence?  'Twas  you 
set  this  bloody  business  a-foot." 

"  Aye,  Martin,  it  was ! "  said  he,  nodding.  "  As  to 
Providence  —  look'ee  now,  if  you  can  ape  Providence  to 
your  own  ends,  which  is  vengeance  and  bloody  murder,  I 
can  do  as  much  for  mine,  which  is  to  save  the  lives  of  such 
as  stand  true  to  me  and  the  ship  —  not  to  mention  the 
women.  There 's  Tressady  skulking  below,  and  I  have  but 
contrived  that  the  mutiny  should  come  in  my  time  rather 
than  his  and  theirs.  As  it  is,  we  are  prepared,  fifteen 
stout  lads  lie  i'  the  roundhouse  below  with  musquetoon  and 
fusee  and  every  gun  and  swivel  that  will  bear  (falconet 
and  paterero)  aimed  to  sweep  the  waist  when  they  rush, 
as  rush  they  will,  Martin,  when  the  drink  hath  maddened 
'em  properly  —  " 

**  And  having  maddened  them  with  your  hellish  decoc- 
tions, you  '11  shoot  the  poor  rogues  down  ?  " 

"Aye,  Martin,  I  will  so,  lest  peradventure  they  shoot 
me.  Then  besides,  shipmate,  what  o'  the  women?  I  have 
the  Lady  Joan  and  her  maid  to  think  on;  'twould  be  an 
ill  fate  theirs  in  the  hands  of  yon  filthy  rabblement.  Hark 
to  'em  yonder !    Hark  what  they  sing ! " 

For  a  while  I  could  hear  nought  but  a  clamour  of 
fierce  shouts  and  hallooing,  then,  little  by  little  this  wild, 
hoarse  tumult  rose  and  swelled  to  a  fierce  chaunt : 

"  Some  swam  in  rum  to  Kingdom  Come 
Full  many  a  lusty  fellow, 
And  since  they  're  sped,  all  stark  and  dead. 
They  're  flaming  now  in  Hell-O 
So  cheerly  O, 
Hey  cheerly  O, 
They  're  burning  down  in  HelI-0 !  " 

"  D'  ye  hear  it,  Martin,  did  ye  hear  it  ?  Shoot  the  poor 
rogues,  d'ye  say?  Sink  me,  but  I  will  so  if  Fortune  be  so 


How  I  Came  Out  of  My  Bonds    171 

kind.  Yonder 's  short  shrift  and  quick  despatch  for  me, 
shipmate,  and  then  —  the  women !  Think  of  my  Lady 
Joan  writhing  in  their  clutches.  Hark'ee  to  the  lewd 
rogues  —  't  is  women  now  —  hark  to  'em !  "  And  here 
again  their  vile  song  burst  forth  with  much  the  same  ob- 
scenity as  I  had  once  heard  sung  by  Abnegation  Mings  in 
a  wood  and  the  which  I  will  not  here  transcribe. 

"  Well,  shipmate,"  said  Adam,  glancing  up  from  his 
papers,  "  last  of  all,  there 's  yourself !  Here  's  you  with 
the  rope  in  prospect  unless  you  quit  this  ship,  and  yonder, 
Martin,  yonder  is  the  longboat  towing  astern,  all  stored 
and  ready,  a  calm  sea  and  a  fair  wind  — " 

"  No  more  o'  that !  "  said  I  angrily. 

*'  But  will  ye  dangle  in  a  noose,  Martin,  when  you 
might  be  away  in  the  longboat  as  tows  astern  of  us  and 
with  a  fair  wind  as  I  say  and — " 

"  Have  done ! "  said  I,  clenching  my  fists. 

"  'T  will  be  the  simplest  thing  in  the  world,  Martin," 
he  went  on,  leaning  back  in  his  chair  and  nodding  up  at 
me  mighty  pleasant.  "  Aye,  a  very  simple  matter  for  you 
to  drop  down  from  the  stem  gallery  yonder,  d'  ye  see,  and 
setting  a  course  southwesterly  you  should  make  our  island 
in  four  and  twenty  hours  or  less,  what  with  this  wind  and 
the  sea  so  calm  —  " 

*'  Never !  "  cried  I  in  growing  fury.  "  Come  what  will 
I  stay  aboard  this  ship  until  we  reach  our  destination !  " 

"  Hum ! "  said  he,  pinching  his  chin  and  eyeing  me 
'twixt  narrowed  lids.  "  Are  ye  still  bent  on  nought  but 
vengeance,  then  ?  Why,  look  'ee,  Martin,  't  is  none  so 
far  to  seek,  for  seeing  you  may  not  reach  the  father  why 
not  smite  him  through  the  daughter?  She  'd  make  fine 
sport  for  our  beastly  crew  —  hark  to  'em  roaring!  Sport 
for  them  and  a  mighty  full  vengeance  for  you  — " 

The  table  betwixt  us  hampered  my  blow  and  then,  as  I 
strove  to  come  at  him,  I  brought  up  with  the  muzzle  of 
his  pistol  within  a  foot  of  my  brow. 

"  Easy,  shipmate,  easy ! "  said  he,  leaning  back  in  his 
chair  but  keeping  me  covered. 


172     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

**  Damned  rogue ! "   I  panted. 

*'  True !  "  he  nodded.  "  True,  Martin,  vengeance  is  kin 
to  roguery,  d'  ye  see.  If  you  're  for  murdering  the  father 
what 's  to  hinder  you  from  giving  the  proud  daughter  up 
to  —  steady,  Martin,  steady  it  is!  Your  sudden  ways  be 
apt  to  startle  a  timid  man,  and  my  finger's  on  the  trig- 
ger. Look  'ee  now,  shipmate,  if  your  scheme  of  fine-gen- 
tlemanly vengeance  doth  not  permit  of  such  methods 
towards  a  woman,  what 's  to  prevent  you  going  on  another 
tack  and  carrying  her  with  you,  safe  from  all  chance  of 
brutality?  There's  stowage  for  her  in  the  longboat 
which  is  a  stout,  roomy  craft  now  towing  astern,  stored 
and  victualled,  a  smooth  sea,  a  fair  wind  —  " 

"  Hark  'ee,  Adam  Penfeather,"  said  I,  choking  with 
passion,  "  once  and  for  all  I  bide  on  this  ship  until  she 
brings  up  off  Hispaniola." 

"But  then,  Martin,  she  never  will  bring  up  off  His- 
paniola, not  whiles  I  navigate  her — " 

"  Ha ! "  I  cried,  "  doth  my  lady  know  of  this  ?  Doth 
Sir  Rupert?" 

"  Not  yet,  Martin." 

"  Then,  by  Heaven,  they  shall  learn  this  very  hour — " 

"  I  think  not,  Martin." 

"  And  I  swear  they  shall.  Let  them  hang  me  an  they 
will,  but  first  they  shall  hear  you  intend  to  seize  the  ship 
to  your  own  purposes  —  aye,  by  God,  they  shall  know  you 
for  the  pirate  you  are ! " 

Now  as  I  turned  and  strode  for  the  door,  I  heard  the 
sudden  scrape  of  Adam's  chair  behind  me  and,  whirling 
about,  saw  his  pistol  a-swing  above  my  head,  felt  the 
vicious,  staggering  blow  and,  reeling  to  the  door,  sank 
weakly  to  my  knees  and  thence  seemed  to  plunge  into  a 
black  immensity  and  knew  no  more. 


CHAPTER   XIX 

Telleth  How  We  Were  Cast  Adeift 

I  AWOKE  to  a  wind  on  my  brow,  very  pleasant  and  sweet, 
and  in  my  ears  the  soft  and  drowsy  ripple  of  water  right 
soothing  to  hear  and  thus  would  have  slumbered  on  but 
for  another  sound  that  broke  out  at  intervals,  a  thun- 
derous roar  that  seemed  to  shake  me  where  I  lay.  There- 
fore I  opened  my  eyes  to  see  above  me  a  great  multitude 
of  stars  and  lay  staring  up  at  them  in  vague  and  dreamy 
wonderment  until,  roused  again  by  another  thunderclap, 
I  raised  myself  and  saw  I  lay  in  the  stem  sheets  of  a  large, 
open  boat  that  rocked  to  a  gentle  swell  and  all  about  me 
a  misty  sea  grey  with  the  dawn.  Now  as  I  gazed  around 
me,  greatly  troubled  and  amazed,  I  beheld,  far  away  across 
these  dim  waters,  a  flash  of  red  flame  and  after  some  while 
heard  again  the  thunder  of  a  gun. 

Little  by  little,  as  the  light  waxed,  I  made  out  the  loom 
of  two  ships  and,  despite  the  distance,  I  knew  the  foremost 
for  the  Faithfidl  Friend.  Ever  and  anon  would  come  the 
faint  crack  of  caliver  or  petronel  from  her  high  poop  and 
the  thunder  of  her  stem-chaser  guns.  And  with  my  mind's 
eyes  I  seemed  to  espy  Adam  firing  from  his  loopholes  to 
sweep  the  decks  forward,  the  while  Godby  and  his  few 
gunners  served  the  great  basilisks  aft,  aiming  them  at  a 
great  black  ship  that  stood  hard  in  their  wake,  yawing 
now  and  then  to  bring  her  fore-chasers  to  bear  on  them  in 
answer. 

Suddenly  up  flamed  the  sun,  turning  sea  and  sky  to 
glory ;  but  I  crouched  miserable  in  my  helplessness  for  now 
I  saw  that  the  Faithfidl  Friend  steered  a  course  that  was 


174     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

taking  her  rapidly  away  from  me  upon  the  freshening 
wind.  Perceiving  which  bitter  truth,  beholding  myself 
thus  befooled,  bubbled  and  tricked  (and  my  head  throb- 
bing from  the  blow  of  Penfeather's  pistol-butt),  a  mighty 
anger  against  him  surged  within  me,  and  shaking  my  fists 
I  fell  to  fierce  curses  and  revilings,  like  any  madman,  until 
what  with  my  aching  head  and  lack  of  breath  I  cast  myself 
face  down  and  lay  there  spent  with  my  futile  ravings.  Yet, 
even  so,  bethinking  me  of  all  my  fine  schemes  and  purposes 
thus  brought  to  nothingness,  and  myself  drifting  impotent 
at  the  mercy  of  wind  and  wave,  I  sought  to  spit  my  puny 
anger  against  the  God  that  made  me  in  blasphemies  and 
bitter  imprecations. 

"  Oh,  shame,  shame  on  you,  Martin  Conisby !  The  God 
you  rail  upon  is  my  God  also.  Have  done,  I  say !  Be 
silent,  nor  tempt  His  mercy  with  your  childish  clamours  !  " 

Up-starting  I  turned  and  beheld  the  Lady  Brandon 
upon  her  knees  within  a  yard  of  me,  saw  her  shrink  before 
my  gaze  and  the  gripping  passion  of  my  hands.  For  now, 
reading  in  her  look  all  her  scorn  and  loathing  for  the 
thing  I  was,  I  must  needs  turn  my  fury  upon  her  and  did 
that  the  which  shames  me  to  this  day,  for  even  as  she 
fronted  me  all  defenceless,  but  with  head  erect  and  eyes 
unflinching  despite  the  sick  pallor  of  her  cheeks,  I  seized 
her  in  cruel  liold  and,  dragging  her  to  me,  bent  her  back- 
ward across  a  thwart. 

"Ha!"  I  gasped.  "Will  ye  dare  cry  shame  on  me? 
Will  ye  mock  —  will  ye  flout  —  will  ye  scorn  me  still  — 
and  you  but  a  lying,  thieving  Brandon !  Would  you 
trample  me  'neath  your  proud  feet  — " 

"  All  this ! "  said  she,  staring  up  into  my  eyes.  "  But  I 
do  pity  you  most  for  —  what  you  are  become.  Oh  —  kill 
me  if  you  will ;  't  would  be  very  easy  for  you  and,  mayhap, 
best  for  me,  and  I  do  not  fear  to  die.  So  do  as  you  will, 
Martin  Conisby ;  I  do  not  fear  you  since  Death  is  my  kind 
friend  and  shall  free  me  of  the  shame  of  you  if  need  be ! " 

Hereupon  I  loosed  her  and,  crouched  again  in  the  stem 


How  We  Were  Cast  Adrift     175 

sheets,  bowed  my  head  upon  my  fists  whiles  she,  kneelmg 
patiently  beside  the  midship  thwart,  ordered  her  wrenched 
garments  with  shaking  hands. 

And,  after  some  while,  her  voice  with  its  sweet,  vital 
ring  pierced  to  those  black  deeps  where  lay  the  soul  of  me. 

"  'T  is  growing  very  rough.     What  must  we  do  ?  " 

Lifting  my  head,  I  saw  that  the  sea  was  risen  consider- 
ably, and  the  boat  drifting  broadside  to  the  wind  so  that 
the  waves,  taking  us  abeam,  spilled  aboard  us  ever  and 
anon.  So  I  arose  and  made  shift  to  step  the  mast  and 
hoist  sail,  nothing  heeding  her  proffered  aid;  then  sliip- 
ping  the  tiller,  I  put  our  little  vessel  before  the  wind. 
And  now,  from  a  log  pitching  and  rolling  at  mercy  of  the 
waves,  this  boat  became,  as  it  were,  alive  and  purposeful, 
lifting  to  the  seas  with  joyous  motion,  shaking  the  water 
from  her  bows  in  flashmg  brine  that  sparkled  jewel-like 
in  the  early  sun,  her  every  timber  thrilling  to  the  buffets 
of  the  waters  that  rushed  bubbling  astern,  all  rainbow- 
hued  and  with  a  sound  like  elfin  laughter,  until  what  with 
all  this  and  the  strong,  sweet  air,  even  I  felt  the  joy  of  it; 
but,  though  my  black  humour  lifted  somewhat,  my  shame 
was  sore  upon  me  wherefore  I  kept  my  gaze  for  the  peak 
of  the  sail,  the  cloudless  heaven,  the  deep  blue  of  the  seas 
and  never  so  much  as  glanced  at  the  patient,  solitary 
figure  amidships. 

"Whither  do  we  sail?"  she  questioned  at  last. 

"What  matter?"  answered  I  sullenly. 

"  Aye,  true !  '*  she  sighed. 

"  Besides,  I  have  no  compass." 

"There  is  one  in  the  locker  here,  and  with  it  a  packet 
and  a  letter  writ  to  you.     Shall  I  bring  them?" 

"  As  you  will,"  said  I,  keeping  my  gaze  averted.  So  she 
made  her  way  over  to  me  (and  mighty  dexterous)  despite 
the  motion  of  the  boat  and,  setting  the  compass  beside  me, 
gave  me  the  letter.     It  was  sealed,  and  subscribed  thus : 

"  To  my  well-Ioved,  trusty  friend^  comrade  and 
brother-adventurer  Martin,  these :  " 


176     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

Breaking  the  seal,  I  read  as  follows : 

For  your  sore  head,  Martin,  I  grieve,  but  the  blow  I  regret 
no  whit,  seeing  it  was  struck  to  our  mutual  advantage  here- 
after. Now  j'ou  (reading  this)  being  at  sea  betwixt  the 
parallels  70  and  65  in  an  open  boat  and  all  by  reason  of  cir- 
cumstances proving  too  strong  for  you,  Martin,  it  much  be- 
hoveth  you  to  mark  and  heed  well  these  my  directions,  to  wit : 
You  shall  lay  your  course  southwesterly  and  that  for  these 
several  and  sufficing  reasons,  viz:  (1)  You  lie  out  of  the 
track  of  ships.  (2)  These  be  treacherous  seas,  given  to  sud- 
den furies  of  wind  and  raging  tempest.  (3)  I  like  not  the 
look  of  the  weather.  (4)  Our  Island  lieth  scarce  twenty-four 
hours'  sail  due  southwesterly.  Whereof  I  have  drawn  for 
your  guidance  a  chart  of  these  waters  together  with  a  plan  of 
Our  Island  (very  just  and  exact).  Also  a  chart  of  the  pas- 
sage or  channel  through  the  barrier-reef,  for  saving  this 
passage  there  is  no  landing  upon  the  island  that  I  know  of. 
Nor  shall  you  attempt  this  passage  except  at  the  flood  and  the 
seas  calm.  Being  landed,  Martin,  you  shall,  with  due  regard 
to  rest  and  refreshment,  forthwith  secure  our  Treasure  (the 
secret  whereof  I  have  included  with  this  my  letter).  There- 
upon and  with  all  despatch,  you  shall,  troubling  not  for  the 
gold  nor  silver,  take  but  the  four  caskets  of  jewels,  and,  set- 
ting them  aboard  your  boat,  sail  away  due  west  (three  days) 
until  you  shall  fetch  up  with  another  island,  the  which  you 
shall  know  by  its  three  several  hills  plain  to  be  seen  and  called 
Gibbet  Island,  since  'twas  there  I  hanged  one  Juan  Maldo- 
nada  (and  richly  deserved  it !).  Here  then  you  shall  bury  our 
Treasure  (four  caskets)  in  such  place  as  seemeth  to  you 
proper  and  th^re  await  my  coming.  And  if  I  join  you  not 
within  two  months,  then  shall  this  mighty  treasure  three 
quarters  thereof  be  yours.  And  if  I  come  not  within  six 
months,  then  shall  this  fortune  be  wholly  yours,  since  I  shall 
be  beyond  all  need  of  it.  So  now,  Martin,  good  Fortune  at- 
tend you.  Your  boat  (chosen  by  me  long  since  and  for  this 
very  purpose)  is  staunch  and  an  excellent  sea-boat  and  very 
well  stored  with  everything  for  your  needs,  as  arms,  clothes, 
food  and  the  like.  Moreover,  within  the  treasure  cave  is  all 
manner  of  stores  so  that  a  man,  even  though  he  bide  on  the 
island  to  his  life's  end,  need  suffer  no  lack  but  have  his  every 
comfort  supphed. 


How  We  Were  Cast  Adrift     177 

And  now,  as  to  your  head,  Martin,  't  vrill  be  none  the  worse 
by  this,  I  judge.  And  for  the  blow,  'twas  no  harder  than 
called  for  and  very  well  intentioned  as  you  shall  confess  one 
day,  mayhap,  unless  you  be  greater  fool  and  blinder  than  I 
take  you  for.  Howbeit  I  trust  you,  Martin,  and  in  bidding 
you  farewell  for  the  nonce,  subscribe  myself. 

Your  faithful  friend  and  comrade  to  serve, 

Adam  Penfeather. 

Having  read  this  wordy  missive,  I  crumpled  it  in  angry 
fist  and  thrust  it  into  my  pocket.  But  now  she  gave  me 
the  packet  named  therein,  the  which  I  forthwith  tossed 
overboard  (like  the  wilful  fool  I  was),  thereby  involving 
us  in  divers  and  many  great  dangers  and  difficulties,  as 
you  shall  learn  hereafter. 

Howbeit  (the  wind  serving),  I  altered  our  course  and 
stood  away  southwesterly,  even  as  Adam  had  directed, 
since  I  perceived  the  weather  thickening  behind  us  and  the 
sea  heaving  with  uneasy  motion.  And  presently  my  com- 
panion questioned  me  again: 

"  Whither  do  we  sail.?  '* 

"  Southwesterly." 

"Aye,  but  whither.?" 

"  To  an  island." 

«Is  it  far.?" 

"Two  days'  journey  or  thereabouts." 

*'Do  you  know  this  island.? " 

"  I  have  never  seen  it." 

"Then  why  sail  thither.?" 

*"T  is  thereabouts  Penfeather  would  meet  with  us  again, 
if  he  may." 

"And  being  there,  what  then.?" 

"Godknoweth!" 

Here  was  silence  again  save  for  the  creak  of  mast  and 
timbers  as  we  rose  to  the  gentle  swell  and  the  ripple  of 
water  'neath  our  keel  while  the  sun,  high  risen,  blazed 
down  from  the  blue,  his  fierce  beams  tempered  by  the  cool, 
sweet  wind. 

"  Are  you  hungry,  Martin?  " 


178     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

"Is  there  aught  to  eat?" 

"  Plenty !  "  So  saying,  she  opened  one  of  the  lockers 
and  brought  thence  a  loaf  of  fine  white  bread,  a  neat's 
tongue,  a  flask  of  ^vine  and  a  small  barrico  of  water,  upon 
which  I,  for  one,  made  an  excellent  meal.  Wliich  done,  she 
set  all  things  away  again,  very  orderly  and  sat  elbow  on 
knee,  staring  away  into  the  distance  and  with  her  back  to 
me.  Hereupon,  I  opened  the  stem  locker  and  found 
therein  a  couple  of  musquetoons,  a  brace  of  pistols,  a 
sword  with  belt  and  hangers  and  divers  kegs  of  powder 
and  ball. 

"How  came  you  lying  stunned  in  the  boat?  "  asked  my 
companion  at  last,  but  without  turning  her  head. 

"  By  roguery !  "  I  answered.  "  But  how  and  when  did 
the  mutiny  start  ?  " 

"  T  was  when  we  went  to  fetch  the  boy,  my  little  page, 
Marj  orie  and  I.  He  lay  hurt  and  crying  on  the  deck ;  so 
we  ran  out  to  him  and  took  him  up  betwixt  us,  and  then 
I  heard  shouts  and  rush  of  feet,  and  they  were  all  about 
us  —  drunken  men  singing  and  dancing.  And  they  strug- 
gled with  us  till  came  Master  Penfeather,  with  Godby  and 
others,  and  after  much  bitter  fighting  brought  us  away. 
But  Marj  orie,  my  dear,  faithful  Marj  orie,  had  taken  a 
blow  aimed  at  me  and  died  —  in  my  arms  —  And  the  great 
cabin  choking  with  powder  smoke  —  and  wounded  men 
who  cried  and  shouted.  My  dear^  brave  Marj  orie !  With 
the  dark  the  fight  began  again  and  twice  I  feared  they 
would  break  in  upon  us.  Then  Master  Adam  brought  me 
out  into  the  stern  gallery  and  lowered  me  into  the  boat 
where  I  might  lie  secure,  and  so  got  him  back  into  the  bat- 
tle. But  in  a  little  I  saw  a  hand  in  the  gloom  cutting  at 
the  tow-rope  and  I  screamed,  but  none  heard.  And  so  the 
boat  drifted  away  and  with  the  dawn  I  found  you  lying 
under  a  boat  cloak." 

When  she  had  done,  I  sat  a  while  staring  up  at  the  peak 
of  the  sail. 

"  My  Lady  Brandon,"  said  I  at  length,  "  Fate  hath  set 
you  in  scurvy  company,  for  I  am  an  ill  rogue,  very  rough 


How  We  Were  Cast  Adrift    179 

and'  rude-mannered  and  no  fit  company  for  any  woman,  as 
you  do  very  well  know.  Howbeit,  I  swear  that  henceforth, 
so  long  as  we  company  together,  I  will  trouble  you  no 
more  than  I  may  either  by  act  or  speech,  you  to  your 
place  in  the  bows  yonder  and  mine  here  at  the  tiller;  you 
to  your  thoughts,  I  to  mine.  And  thus  methinks  we  shall 
do  well  enough  until  we  can  go  our  several  ways." 

"  Must  we  not  speak  ?  "  she  questioned,  keeping  her  face 
turned  from  me. 

"When  needful,  madam!" 

**  Am  I  but  to  answer  when  you  deign  me  notice.''  Will 
it  plague  you  if  I  sing?  Am  I  to  sit  with  my  hands  folded 
henceforth  and  do  nought  but  think?  Must  I  stay  in  the 
bows  until  you  summon  me  thence?**  asked  she,  and  all  in 
the  same  small,  soft  voice,  so  that  I  perceived  my  fine 
speech  had  been  thrown  away;  wherefore  I  stared  up  at 
the  sail  and  with  never  a  word  in  answer. 

But  presently,  chancing  to  look  at  her,  I  found  her  re- 
garding me  with  her  dimpled  chin  set  mighty  resolute. 
"  Because,'*  said  she,  meeting  my  look,  *'  I  shall  talk  when 
I  will  and  sing  when  so  minded,  Martin  Conisby.  I  shall 
not  sit  in  the  bows,  for  't  is  wet  there ;  and  I  shall  not  fold 
my  hands,  but  you  shall  teach  me  how  to  steer  and  handle 
the  boat  and  do  my  share  of  the  labour.  For  look  now, 
here  are  we,  by  no  will  of  our  own,  God  knoweth,  com- 
panions in  misfortune ;  let  us  then  aid  each  other  that  our 
troubles  be  the  easier.  And  oh,  pray  do  you  forget  Martin 
Conisby  his  woes  awhile.'*  And  away  she  went  and  getting 
to  her  knees  before  one  of  the  lockers  began  rearranging 
the  contents,  singing  away  the  while,  merry  as  any  grig. 

As  the  day  wore  on,  the  skies  clouded  over  with  a  wind 
very  sudden  and  blusterous,  wherefore,  misliking  the  look 
of  things,  I  was  for  shortening  sail  but  feared  to  leave 
the  helm  lest  the  boat  should  broach  to  and  swamp  while 
this  was  a-doing.  But  the  wind  increasing,  I  was  neces- 
sitated to  call  my  companion  beside  me  and  teach  her  how 
she  must  counter  each  wind-gust  with  the  helm,  and  found 
her  very  apt  and  quick  to  learn.     So  leaving  the  boat  to 


i8o     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

her  manage,  I  gat  me  forward  and  (with  no  little  to  do) 
double-reefed  our  sail,  leaving  just  sufficient  to  steer  by; 
which  done  I  glanced  to  my  companion  where  she  leaned 
to  the  tiller,  her  long  hair  streaming  out  upon  the  wind, 
her  lithe  body  a-sway  to  the  pitching  of  the  boat  and 
steering  as  well  as  I  myself.  From  her  I  gazed  to  wind- 
ward, where  an  ominous  and  ever-growing  blackness  filled 
me  w^th  no  small  apprehensions ;  wherefore  I  made  fast  all 
our  loose  gear,  as  oars,  spare  sail,  spars  and  the  like. 
Now  in  the  bows  were  stowed  her  belongings,  a  leathern 
trunk  and  divers  bundles,  the  which  I  proceeded  to  secure 
in  their  turn.  This  done,  I  got  me  aft  again,  but  when 
I  would  have  relieved  her  of  the  tiller,  she  shook  her  head. 

"Nay,  let  me  steer  awhile,"  she  cried,  looking  up 
through  her  wind-tossed  hair,  "  't  is  j  oy  to  me !  Lay  j^ou 
down  and  rest  awhile  and  trust  the  boat  to  me."  And 
seeing  how  quick  she  was  to  meet  each  send  of  the  seas 
(that  were  already  running  high)  glad  enough  was  I  to 
humour  her  whim  and  clambered  forward  again.  And  there 
(having  nought  better  to  do)  I  set  about  rigging  a  rough 
awning  athwart  the  bows  with  canvas  and  a  stout  spar 
which  methought  should  keep  out  the  spray  and  any 
chance  sea  that  might  break  forward;  though  indeed  th^ 
boat  seemed  mighty  staunch  and  seaworthy  to  a  miracle. 

With  every  hour  the  wind  waxed  in  fury,  and  there- 
with the  sea  rose,  —  huge,  rolling  billows  that  came  roar- 
ing up  astern  to  whirl  us  aloft  amid  hissing  brine  and, 
passing,  left  us  deep-plunged  in  great,  foamy  hollows. 
Being  got  back  aft  at  last  and  with  no  small  exertion  (by 
reason  of  the  boat's  pitching)  I  stared  amazed  to  hear  my 
companion  singing  right  joyously. 

"  Oh,  Martin ! "  she  cried,  her  voice  a-thrill  with  the 
clear  vital  ring  I  knew  so  well.  "  Oh,  Martin,  the  wonder 
and  glory  of  it !  See  yonder  on  these  mighty  waters, 
Death  rides  crying  to  us.  But  God  Is  there  also,  and  if 
these  rushing  surges  'whelm  us  we,  dying,  shall  find  God 
there."  And  beholding  her  as  she  sat,  her  face  uplifted 
to  the  tempest,  her  sea- wet  hair  upborne  upon  the  wind, 


How  We  Were  Cast  Adrift    i8i 

I  marvelled  within  myself.  "And  the  boat,  Martin!" 
cried  she  as  we  rose  on  a  hissing  wave-crest.  "  This  dear, 
brave  boat !  See  how  nobly  she  rides ;  indeed  and  indeed 
I  do  love  her  every  timber ! " 

And  verily,  to  me,  awed  by  these  mighty  waters,  it  was 
wonderful  to  see  how  our  little  craft  rose  to  the  seas, 
buoyant  as  any  cork ;  now  poised  'mid  hissing  foam  high  in 
air,  now  plunging  dizzily  down ;  and  ever  the  wind  gathered 
fury  until  the  very  air  seemed  full  of  whirling  spindrift. 

In  a  while  I  took  the  tiller  and  wondered  to  see  my  com- 
panion droop  all  at  once  with  head  bowed  upon  her  hands. 

"  Are  you  sick?  "  I  cried. 

"  'T  is  but  weariness,"  she  answered.  "  I  slept  no  wink 
last  night." 

"  Why,  then  go  forward  and  lie  down ! "  said  I.  The 
which  she  did  forthwith  and  made  less  business  of  it  than 
I.  Reaching  the  mast  she  paused  thereby  to  behold  my 
handiwork  then,  going  on  her  knees,  crept  beneath  the 
awning  and  vanished  from  my  view. 

Left  alone  I  stared  around  me  on  the  raging  tumult  and, 
beholding  all  its  terrors,  my  mind  was  full  of  wonder  of 
this  maid  who  could  sing  so  bhthely  with  Death  all  about 
her  and  behold  God,  as  it  were,  riding  on  the  wings  of  the 
storm. 

Presently  she  came  and  sat  beside  me  that  we  might  talk 
for  the  wind  was  very  loud. 

"  It  was  kind  of  you  to  make  me  so  fair  a  shelter, 
Martin,  and  a  bed  also,  kind  and  very  thoughtful,  but  I 
shall  not  sleep  to-night  unless  it  be  here." 

"  And  why  here  ?  " 

"  Death  hath  more  terrors  in  the  dark,  and  I  grow  a 
little  fearful,  Martin."  So  saying,  she  wrapped  a  boat 
cloak  about  her  and,  spreading  out  the  other,  lay  down 
thereon  and  so  -near  that  I  might  have  touched  her  where 
she  lay. 

And  in  a  while  night  rushed  down  upon  us  and  it  was 
dark;  but  from  the  dark  her  voice  reached  me,  where  she 
lay,  her  head  pillowed  at  my  feet,  and  I,  crouching  above 


1 82     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

her,  strove  to  shelter  her  somewhat  from  the  lashing  spray 
and  buffeting  wind.  Thus  in  despite  of  raging  tempest, 
we  contrived  to  make  each  other  hear,  though  with  diffi- 
culty, talking  on  this  wise: 

She.     Are  you  afraid? 

Myself.     No. 

She.     Have  you  then  no  fears  of  death? 

Myself.     I  have  prayed  for  it,  ere  now. 

She.  And  vainly!  For  God,  instead,  hath  made  you 
very  hale  and  strong. 

Myself.     Aye,  for  a  purpose. 

She.     What  purpose? 

Here,  seeing  I  held  my  peace,  she  questioned  me  again: 

*'  Was  your  purpose  the  slaying  of  my  father?  He  is 
an  old  man  and  feeble ! " 

Myself.  He  plotted  the  downfall  of  our  house  and  slew 
my  father! 

She.     And  so  you  have  prayed  for  vengeance? 

Myself.     I  have. 

She.  And  God  hath  denied  you  this  also.  Should  you 
die  to-night  you  go  to  him  innocent  of  your  enemy's  blood. 

Myself.     Aye,  but  if  I  live  —  ? 

She.  You  shall  grow  wiser,  mayhap,  and  forgetting  the 
ill  that  lies  behind  you,  reach  out  to  the  good  that  lieth 
before. 

Myself.     And  what  of  my  just  vengeance? 

She.  Vengeance  is  but  for  the  weak  of  soul ;  't  is  only 
the  strong  can  forgive. 

Myself.  What  of  my  sacred  vow?  What  of  my  many 
prayers  for  vengeance? 

She,     Empty  breath! 

Myself.     Dare  you  say  so?  \ 

She.  I  dare  more,  for  lying  here  with  Death  all  about 
us,  I  tell  you,  Martin  Conisby,  despite  your  size  and 
strength,  you  are  no  better  than  a  pitiful,  peevish  child  — 

**  Ha ! "  cried  I  fiercely,  bending  over  her  in  the  dimness 
until  I  might  stare  into  her  eyes,  wide  and  dark  in  the 
pale  oval  of  her  face.     "  Will  ye  dare  —  " 


How  We  Were  Cast  Adrift    183 

"A  child,"  said  she  again,  nodding  at  me.  "Lost  and 
wilful  and  very  selfish,  with  no  thought  above  Martin 
Conisby  and  his  wrongs.  Nay,  scowl  not  nor  grind  your 
teeth;  'tis  vain!  For  how  may  I,  that  fear  not  God's 
dreadful  tempest,  stoop  to  fear  poor  Martin  Conisby.'"' 

"  Stoop,  madam !  "  I  cried  hoarsely. 

"  Aye,  stoop,"  said  she.  "  The  wrongs  you  have  en- 
dured have  plunged  you  to  the  very  deeps,  have  stripped 
you  of  your  manhood.  And  yet  —  yours  is  no  murderer's 
face,  even  when  you  scowl  and  clench  your  fist !  'T  was  so 
you  looked  when  you  fought  that  rough  boy  on  my  behalf 
so  many  years  ago  when  you  were  Sir  Martin  the  Knight- 
errant  and  I  was  Princess  Damaris.  And  now,  Martin, 
you  that  were  my  playmate  and  had  forgot  —  you  that 
were  so  ready  to  fight  on  my  behalf,  in  this  desolation  there 
is  none  you  may  do  battle  with  for  my  sake  saving  only  — 
Martin  Conisby ! " 

Now  here  she  turned,  her  face  hid  from  me  'neath  a  fold 
of  the  great  boat  cloak  and  spake  no  more.  And  I, 
crouched  above  her,  staring  down  at  her  muffled  form  out- 
stretched thus  at  my  mercy,  felt  my  quivering  fist  relax, 
felt  my  brutish  anger  cower  before  her  trust  and  fearless- 
ness. And  so,  leaning  across  the  tiller,  I  stared  away  into 
the  raging  dark;  and  now  it  seemed  that  the  soul  of  me 
had  sunk  to  deeps  more  black  and,  groping  blindly  there, 
hungered  for  the  light. 

So  all  night  long  we  drove  before  the  tempest  through 
a  pitchy  gloom  full  of  the  hiss  of  mighty  seas  that  roared 
past  us  in  the  dark  like  raging  giants.  And  all  night  long 
she  lay,  her  head  pillowed  at  my  feet,  sleeping  like  a 
wearied  child  and  her  long,  wind-tossed  hair  within  touch 
of  my  hand. 


CHAPTER   XX 

Perils  and  Dangers  at  Sea 

Towards  dawn  the  wind  abated  more  and  more  and, 
glancing  into  the  lightening  east,  I  saw  the  black  storm- 
clouds  pierced,  as  it  were,  by  a  sword  of  glory,  a  single 
vivid  ray  that  smote  across  the  angry  waters,  waxing 
ever  more  glorious  until  up  flamed  the  sun,  before  whose 
joyous  beams  the  sullen  clouds  scattered,  little  by  little, 
and  melted  away. 

And  now  I  (that  was  doomed  to  my  own  undoing),  in- 
stead of  thanking  that  merciful  God  who  had  delivered  us 
from  such  dire  peril,  must  needs  scowl  upon  this  kindly 
sun  and  fall  again  to  my  black  humours.  For,  the  imme- 
diate dangers  past,  I  began  to  ponder  the  future  and 
inwardly  to  rage  against  that  perverse  fate  the  which  was 
driving  me  whither  it  would.  So,  crouched  chin  on  fist, 
scowling  across  these  tempestuous  waters  (for  though  the 
wind  was  fallen  the  seas  ran  very  high),  within  myself  I 
cursed  Adam  Penfeather  and  all  his  works. 

"  You  are  hungry,  Martin !  "  Turning  about,  I  beheld 
my  companion  sitting  up,  regarding  me  with  eyes  that 
belied  her  solemn  mouth. 

"  How  should  you  know  this  ?  "  "" 

"You  frown,  Martin!  Though  the  storm  is  done  and 
we  alive,  yet  you  frown!  Have  patience,  and  you  shall 
eat  and  sleep." 

"  I  want  neither  one  nor  other ! "  I  began. 

*'  And  you  are  wet,  Martin !  '* 

"'Tis  no  matter!" 

"And  cold!" 


Perils  and  Dangers  at  Sea      185 

**  The  sun  shall  warm  me." 

"  So  you  shall  eat,  and  lie  here  i'  the  sunshine,  and 
sleep ! " 

And  away  she  went  to  vanish  under  the  dripping  pent- 
house forward  (the  which  had  served  its  purpose  admi- 
rably well)  whiles  I,  perceiving  the  waves  subsiding  and 
the  wind  blowing  steady  and  fair,  laid  our  course  due 
southwesterly  again  and,  lashing  the  helm,  went  forward 
to  shake  out  the  reefs,  finding  it  no  easy  task,  what  with 
the  stiffness  of  my  cramped  limbs  and  the  pitching  of 
the  boat;  howbeit,  'twas  done  at  last  but,  coming  back, 
I  tripped  across  a  thwart  and  fell,  cursing. 

"  Are  you  much  hurt  ?  "  she  questioned,  stooping  over 
me;  whereupon  (for  very  shame)  I  turned  my  back,  an- 
swering short  and  ungraciously  and  sat  frowning  hke  the 
sullen  rogue  I  was  whiles  she  busily  set  forth  the  where- 
withal to  break  our  fast,  singing  softly  to  herself. 

"  I  told  you  I  was  an  ill  rogue  and  rough ! "  said  I  bit- 
terly. 

"Why,  so  you  did,"  said  she,  meeting  my  scowl  with 
her  wide,  calm  gaze.  "  Also  you  are  hungry,  and  the  food 
is  unspoiled  despite  the  storm  —  come  and  eat ! " 

So  I  ate  (though  with  mighty  ill  grace)  and  found 
little  savour  in  the  food,  for  all  my  hunger ;  but  she  waited 
on  my  wants  with  heedful  care,  my  surliness  notwith- 
standing. 

"  Whose  was  the  hand  set  this  boat  adrift,  think  you  ?  " 
said  I  suddenly. 

*'  Nay,  't  was  too  dark  to  see ! " 

"  'T  was  Penfeather !  "  said  I,  clenching  my  fist.  **  Aye, 
it  was  Adam,  I  '11  stake  my  life  on 't ! " 

"  Then  poor  Master  Adam ! "   she  sighed. 

"  How  ?     Will  you  pity  a  rogue  ?  " 

"  I  speak  of  Master  Penfeather,"  said  she.  '*  If  he  in- 
deed cut  the  boat  adrift  it  was  doubtless  because  the  battle 
was  going  against  him,  and  he  did  this  to  save  me ! " 
Hereupon  I  laughed  and  she,  flushing  angrily,  turned  her 
back  on  me. 


1 86     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

**Pray  you,"  she  questioned,  "when  may  we  hope  to 
reach  the  island  and  be  free  of  each  other?  " 

"To-night  or  to-morrow,  unless  the  storm  hath  driven 
us  further  than  I  judge."  And  now,  our  meal  done,  she 
set  away  everything  in  its  appointed  place  and  thereafter 
sat  watching  the  sea,  all  foam  and  sparkle  beneath  the 
young  sun.  And  presently  a  sigh  brake  from  her  and  she 
turned,  her  anger  forgotten  quite. 

"Oh!"  cried  she,  "'tis  joy  to  be  alive,  to  breathe 
such  air  and  behold  such  a  glory  of  sea  and  sky!  Look 
around  us,  Martin,  and  give  thanks ! "  And  truly  the  sea 
was  smooth  enough,  save  for  a  long,  rolling  swell  out  of 
the  east  and  with  a  soft  and  gentle  wind  to  abate  the  sun's 
generous  heat.  **  Are  you  not  glad  to  be  alive,  Martin  ?  " 
said  she. 

"To  what  end? "  I  answered.  *' Of  what  avail  is  life  to 
me,  cast  away  on  a  desolate  island?" 

"Desolate?"  said  she,  starting.  "Do  you  mean  we 
shall  be  alone?" 

"  Aye,  I  do." 

"But  surely,"  said  she  with  troubled  look,  "surely 
Master  Adam  will  fetch  us  away?  " 

**  There  is  a  chance !  " 

"And  — if  not?" 

"  God  knoweth  I "  said  I  gloomily.  "  'T  is  a  small  island 
as  I  learn,  little  known  and  out  of  the  track  of  vessels." 

"Yet  a  ship  may  come  thither  to  our  relief?" 

"How  if  one  doth  not?" 

"  Then  must  we  tempt  the  sea  again  in  our  boat." 

*'  I  am  no  navigator,  and  these  seas  are  strange  to  me." 

"  Howbeit,"  said  she  bravely,  "  we  have  good  store  of 
provisions." 

"And  when  they  are  gone  —  how  then,  think  you?" 

**  I  think  you  do  lack  for  sleep.  Go,  take  your  rest ;  may- 
hap you  shall  waken  a  little  bolder  and  less  despairing." 

"  And  you,"  said  I,  "  you  that  so  look  on  all  this  as  a 
joyous  adventure  —  " 

"  Joyous  ?    Ah,  God !  "   she  cried.     "  Do  you  think  be- 


Perils  and  Dangers  at  Sea       187 

cause  I  dd  not  weep  that  my  heart  is  not  full  of  misery 
and  grief  to  lose  thus  home  and  friends  and  country  and 
live  'prisoned  and  solitary  with  such  as  you,  that  think 
but  on  your  own  selfish  woes  and  in  your  big  body  bear 
the  soul  of  a  fretful  babe?  I  hate  you,  Martin  Conisby, 
scorn  and  despise  you !  And  now  give  me  the  tiUer  and 
begone  to  your  sleep !  " 

Saying  which,  she  pointed  where  she  had  spread  the 
cloaks  hard  by  the  midship  thwart,  and  I,  amazed  by  her 
fierce  outburst,  suffered  her  to  take  the  tiller  from  my 
hold,  and  coming  amidships  laid  myself  down  even  as  she 
had  commanded. 

But  no  thought  of  sleep  had  I,  rather  I  lay  that  I  might 
watch  her  (furtively,  beneath  my  arm)  where  she  sat, 
head  aloft,  cheeks  flushed  and  bosom  tempestuous.  And 
(despite  her  beauty)  a  very  termagant  shrew  I  thought 
her.  Then,  all  at  once,  I  saw  a  tear  fall  and  another ;  and 
she  that  had  sung  undaunted  to  the  tempest  and  outfaced 
its  fury  sat  bitterly  weeping  like  any  heart-broke  maid, 
yet  giving  due  heed  to  our  course,  none  the  less.  Pres- 
ently, chancing  to  look  my  way,  she  caught  me  watching 
her  and  knitted  her  slender  brows  at  me: 

"  Get  you  to  sleep !  "  said  she.  *'  Oh,  get  you  to  sleep 
nor  trouble  my  grief ! " 

Hereupon  (and  feeling  mighty  guilty)  I  pillowed  my 
head  and,  closing  mj  eyes,  presently  fell  to  sweet  and 
dreamless  slumber. 

"  Martin,  Martin  —  look ! " 

I  started  up  and,  rubbing  sleep  from  my  eyes,  turned 
to  gaze  whither  she  pointed ;  and  there,  faint  and  far, 
above  the   rolling  blue   of   the   seas,   rose  a   blue   shape. 

"'Tis  the  island,  Martin!  Our  voyaging  is  nigh 
ended." 

"  Aye,  't  is  the  island !  "  said  I. 

"  'T  is  like  an  island  of  dream,  Martin." 

"  Nay,  't  is  real  enough,"   quoth  I,  "  and  solitary ! " 

"  There  is  a  perspective  glass  In  the  locker  yonder, 
Martin." 


1 88     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

"  Master  Adam  was  vastly  thoughtful ! "  quoth  I  bit- 
terly.    And  reaching  the  glass  I  gave  it  to  her. 

"WiU  you  not  look  at  the  island?"  she  questioned 
wonderingly. 

*'  Nay,  I  shall  see  more  than  enough  of  it  ere  long !  Do 
you  give  me  the  tiller  and  view  it  as  you  will." 

"  I  see  rocks ! "  said  she,  after  some  while. 

"Ha,  a  barren  place,  as  I  thought  — " 

"  Nay,  there  are  trees  —  many  trees !  Oh,  't  is  wonder- 
ful ! "  And  so  she  sat  viewing  it  all  untiring,  every  mo- 
ment discovering  some  new  marvel;  but  I  fell  to  my  old 
black  humour,  since  to  me  this  island  was  no  better  than 
a  prison. 

By  midday  we  were  come  so  close  that  I  might  see  the 
place  very  well;  a  smallish  island  with  sheer  cliffs  very 
j  agged  and  grim  where  the  seas  broke  in  foam  and  crowned 
with  many  and  divers  trees,  beyond  which  rose  greeny 
slopes  with  more  trees  that  mounted  up  and  up  to  a  lofty 
summit  of  rocks  and  brush.  Being  within  some  two  miles 
of  these  forbidding  cliffs,  I  steered  to  fetch  a  compass 
about  the  island  and  so  presently  opened  a  bay  of  wliite 
sand  with  tree-clad  cliffs  beyond  and  before  it  a  sheet  of 
placid  water  or  lagoon  shut  off  from  the  sea  by  a  semi- 
circular barrier-reef  such  as  Adam  had  described. 

And  now,  thinking  me  that  (by  his  account)  this  was 
the  only  means  of  landing  upon  the  island,  I  stood  for 
this  reef,  against  which  the  foaming  seas  dashed  with  a 
mighty  roaring,  looking  for  that  narrow  channel  through 
the  reef,  that  opening  amid  these  breakers,  whereby  we 
might  steer  into  those  calm  waters  beyond. 

And  presently,  sure  enough,  I  espied  it  well-nigh  in  the 
middle  of  the  reef,  even  as  Adam  had  said,  and,  putting 
up  the  helm,  ran  for  it  straightway.  An  evil  enough 
place  it  looked,  perilously  narrow  and  with  mighty  seas 
that  broke  in  thunderous  spray  to  riglit  and  left  of 
it;  insomuch  that  heedful  of  Adam's  warning  (and  all  too 
late)  I  was  minded  to  bear  up  and  stand  away,  plying  off 
and  on,  until  the  waves  should  have  moderated.     But  in 


Perils  and  Dangers  at  Sea      189 

my  folly  I  had  sailed  too  near  and  now,  swept  onward  by 
some  current,  the  boat,  responding  no  more  to  her  helm, 
was  borne  on  at  ever-increasing  speed.  So  thus  helpless 
and  at  mercy  of  the  seas  we  drove  straight  for  this  peril- 
ous channel  until  I  had  some  desperate  hope  that  she 
might  make  it;  on  we  sped,  nearer  and  nearer,  until  the 
spume  of  the  breakers  was  all  about  us  and  I  weU-nigh 
deafened  by  their  roar ;  but  this  roar  was  pierced  suddenly 
by  a  cry: 

"Oh,  Martin!  God  pity  us — look!"  Turning  my 
head,  I  saw  a  hugeous  wave  hard  upon  us,  felt  my  com- 
panion's arms  about  me  and  then  —  deafened,  blinded, 
choking — I  was  whirled  aloft  on  this  mighty  sea,  tossed, 
buffeted,  hurled  into  blinding  sunlight,  buried  beneath 
green  deeps  and,  expectant  of  death,  suddenly  found  my- 
self face  down  on  warm  sands,  wherein  my  griping  fingers 
clutched  desperately  against  the  back-rush  of  the  sea. 

So  lay  I  gasping  and  gripping  this  kindly  earth  and 
waited  to  do  battle  for  what  remained  of  life,  hearkening 
for  the  fierce  hiss  of  that  great  wave  that  was  to  bear  me 
back  to  the  horror  of  those  green  deeps  the  which  should 
bury  me  for  ever ;  instead  I  heard  the  gentle,  drowsy  lap- 
ping of  water  all  about  me  and,  opening  my  eyes,  beheld 
myself  lying  on  the  edge  of  those  white  sands  that  bor- 
dered the  lagoon,  while  behind  me  the  seas  thundered  im- 
potent against  the  reef.  And  now,  little  by  little,  I  saw 
that  the  great  wave  must  have  borne  me  hither  in  miracu- 
lous fashion;  and  lying  thus  bruised  and  spent,  I  must 
needs  remember  how  Adam  had  experienced  the  like. 

But  all  at  once  I  staggered  up  to  my  feet  and  began 
staring  hither  and  thither ;  then,  as  my  brain  cleared  and 
strength  came  back,  I  took  to  running  along  the  edge  of 
the  lagoon  like  one  demented,  staring  down  into  these 
placid  waters  and  searching  the  white  sands  with  eyes  of 
dreadful  expectancy,  yet  nowhere  could  I  discover  sign 
or  trace  of  my  companion.  None  the  less  I  continued  to 
run  aimlfissly  back  and  forth,  heedless  of  my  going,  slip- 
,-ping  and  stumbling  and  often  falling,  but  never  staying 


190     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

my  search  until  the  sweat  poured  from  me.  And  ever  as  I 
ran  I  kept  repeating  these  words  to  myself  over  and  over 
again,  viz :  "  Adam's  comrade  Nicholas  Frant  was  cast 
safe  ashore  with  him !  " 

Thus  I  ran  to  and  fro,  gasping  these  words  to  myself, 
until,  tripping  over  a  piece  of  driftwood,  I  lay  bruised 
and  well-nigh  spent.  Howbeit,  I  forced  myself  up  again 
and  recommenced  my  search  and  this  time  with  more 
method,  for  I  swore  to  myself  that  I  would  find  her  or 
perish  also.  To  this  end  I  determined  to  get  me  out  upon 
the  reef;  now  to  come  thither  I  must  needs  climb  over  cer- 
tain rocks ;  so  came  I  thither  and,  breathless  with  haste, 
made  shift  to  mount  these  rocks,  heedless  of  bruises  or 
bleeding  hands  and,  reaching  the  summit  at  last,  paused 
all  at  once. 

She  lay  face  down  almost  below  these  rocks,  out- 
stretched within  a  little  cove,  and  her  long,  wet  hair  wide- 
tossed  like  drifted  seaweed  all  about  her.  Now  seeing 
how  still  she  lay,  a  great  sickness  seized  me  so  that  I  sank 
weakly  to  my  knees  and  crouched  thus  a  while,  with  no 
strength  nor  will  to  move.  At  last,  and  very  slowly,  I 
made  my  way  a-down  the  rocks  and,  being  within  the  little 
cove,  found  myself  all  trembling  and  holding  my  breath. 
Then,  though  the  soft  sand  deadened  all  sound  of  my 
going,  I  crept  forward.  So  came  I  where  she  lay,  her 
wet  draperies  clinging  fast  about  her ;  and  standing  above 
this  stilly  form  I  looked  down  upon  her  slender  shapeliness, 
yet  feared  to  touch  her.  And  now  I  saw  that  one  sleeve 
was  torn  away  and  upon  her  round  white  arm  the  marks 
my  cruel  hands  had  wrought. 

"  Damaris ! "  said  I,  falling  on  my  knees  beside  her, 
and  the  word  was  a  groan.  And  in  that  moment  she  raised 
her  head  and  looked  at  me,  and  in  her  eyes  methought  to 
read  wonder  and  a  sudden,  great  joy. 

"Martin!"  she  whispered.  "Oh,  thank  God!"  And 
so  hid  her  face  again.  Now,  being  yet  on  my  knees,  I 
looked  from  her  to  the  blue  heaven  and  round  about  me, 
like  one  that  wakes  upon  a  new  world. 


CHAPTER    XXI 

How  I  Was  Haunted  of  Black  Bartlemy 

"  Aee  you  hurt?  "  said  I  at  last. 

"  Indeed,"  she  answered,  "  all  over.  Yet  am  I  aJive 
and  there's  the  wonder.  The  wave  cast  me  into  the 
lagoon,  and  I  crept  ashore  here.  Then  methought  you 
surely  dead  and  I  alone  within  these  solitudes,  and  so  I 
swooned,  Martin." 

"Being  afraid  of  the  loneliness?" 

"Yes,  Martin." 

"  Even  fellow  as  rough  as  I  is  better  than  loneliness  ?  " 

"Yes,  Martin." 

"  Though  your  arms  be  bruised  by  my  handling !  For 
this  I  —  I  would  crave  your  pardon  —  " 

"  'T  is  all  forgot ! "  said  she,  making  shift  to  cover  up 
her  arm. 

"  But  your  hand  is  bleeding  —  " 

"A  scratch!" 

"  Have  you  no  other  hurts  ?  " 

"A  bruise  or  so.  And  did  you  come  a-seeking  me, 
Martin?" 

"  Yes." 

"  Are  you  glad  to  find  me  alive?  " 

"  Yes." 

"Even  a  Brandon  is  better  than  nobody,  Martin?" 
But  at  this  I  arose,  albeit  stiffly,  and  turned  away. 
"  Whither  would  you  go  ?  "   she  questioned. 

"  To  seek  some  shelter  ere  night  catch  us." 

"  Shall  I  not  come  with  you  ?  " 

"  Can  you  walk  ?  " 

Hereupon  she  made  to  rise  but,  getting  to  her  knees, 
flinched  and  bit  her  lip. 


192     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

"  I  'm  so  bruised,  Martin ! "  said  she. 

"Why,  then,  bide  you  here;  yonder  cleft  i'  the  rock 
should  serve  for  to-night.  Howbeit,  I  '11  go  look."  So  I 
limped  across  the  beach  to  where  showed  a  great  fissure 
in  the  cliff  hard  beside  a  lofty  tree ;  being  come  within  this 
cleft  I  found  it  narrow  suddenly  and  at  the  end  a  small 
cave  very  dry  and  excellent  suited  to  our  purpose.  More- 
over, close  at  hand  was  a  little  rill  that  bubbled  among 
mossy  rocks,  mighty  pleasant  to  be  heard.  And  here- 
abouts grew  all  manner  of  vines,  sweet-smelling  shrubs 
and  fern;  of  these  I  gathered  goodly  quantity  and, 
strowing  them  within  the  cave,  therewith  made  a  very 
passable  bed;  which  done,  I  went  back  where  she  lay 
a-drying  her  wet  garments  in  the  warm  sun  as  well  as  she 
might. 

"Martin,"  said  she,  mighty  doleful,  "I  have  lost  my 
comb  and  all  my  hairpins." 

"  I  will  fashion  you  others." 

"  Aye,  but  the  boat,  Martin,  our  dear,  brave  boat ! " 

*' To-morrow  I  will  seek  what  remains  of  her." 

"  And  our  stores  —  all  lost,  Martin ! " 

**  I  can  find  more." 

"Where.?"  • 

*' Among  the  rocks  and  on  the  trees.  There  should  be 
no  lack  of  fruit  and  fish,  according  to  Adam." 

**  Nay  but,"  sighed  she,  shaking  woeful  head,  "  even 
though  we  contrive  to  live  thus,  yet  here  must  we  'bide  far 
from  our  kind  with  small  hopes  of  relief  and  destitute  of 
all  things  to  our  comfort." 

"Why,  look  now,"  said  I,  "here  in  my  pocket  is  a 
tinder  box  the  which  is  a  very  comfortable  thing;  here  in 
my  belt  a  good,  stout  knife  which  is  another  comfortable 
thing ;  and  yonder  is  a  cave,  dry  and  airy,  shall  make  you 
a  goodly  chamber;  so  take  comfort  to-night,  at  least." 
And  drawing  my  knife,  I  betook  me  to  whetting  the  blade 
on  the  sole  of  my  damp  shoe.  Glancing  up  at  last,  I 
found  my  companion  regarding  me  with  strange  expres- 
sion. 


Haunted  of  Black  Bartlemy    193 

"Methinks  you  are  greatly  changed!"  said  she. 

"How  changed?" 

"In  the  boat  you  did  nought  but  cry  out  and  rail 
'gainst  fortune,  but  now,  Martin — " 

"  Now,"  said  I,  "  the  sun  is  low,  and  night  cometh 
apace  in  these  latitudes ;  let  me  know  you  sheltered  ere 
it  be  dark ! "  and  sheathing  my  knife  I  rose.  Then,  see- 
ing what  effort  she  made  to  come  to  her  knees,  I  reached 
her  my  hand,  aiding  her  up  to  her  feet.  So  she  took  a 
step  and,  stifling  a  cry  of  pain,  would  have  fallen  but  for 
my  arm.  ' 

"  Oh,  Martin,"  said  she,  with  rueful  shake  of  the  liead, 
**  I  fear  I  cannot  walk." 

"Lean  on  me  —  " 

"  'T  is  vain,"  said  she,  catching  her  breath,  "  I  cannot 
set  this  foot  to  ground." 

"Have  you  any  bones  broke?" 

"  Nay,  't  is  none  so  bad  as  that  —  " 

"  Where 's  your  hurt  ?  " 

"  My  knee  —  my  ankle !  And  I  'm  direly  bruised, 
Martin." 

"  But  you  cannot  sleep  out  here ! " 

"  I  needs  must.    The  sand  is  warm  and  soft  to  my  bed." 

"  There  is  a  better  waiting  you  in  the  cave  yonder." 

"But  —  if  I  cannot  walk,  Martin  —  " 

*'  Why,  then,  said  I,  "  why,  then,  you  must  suffer  that 
I  carry  you." 

"  I  fear  I  am  —  greatly  heavy,  Martin !  " 

*'As  to  that  — "  said  I  and,  lifting  her  as  gently  as  I 
might,  began  to  bear  her  across  the  beach.  And  after 
we  had  gone  thus  some  way  she  spoke : 

"  I  fear  me  I  am  vastly  heavy ! " 

"  No ! "  says  I,  keeping  my  gaze  before  me. 

"Yet  you  go  very  slowly." 

"'Tis  that  I  would  not  jostle  you." 

"  And  the  sand  is  ill-going,  belike,  Martin  ?  " 

"  Most  true !  "   said  I,  pretending  to  stumble. 

"Why,  then,  I  pray  you  take  your  time."   At  this  I 


194     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

ventured  to  glance  down  at  her  but  saw  no  more  than  the 
curve  of  a  cheek  and  the  tip  of  a  little  ear;  and  staring 
at  this  came  very  near  blundering  into  a  rock.  So  I  bore 
her  into  the  rocky  cleft  already  full  of  shadow,  taking  due 
heed  in  my  going,  yet  mighty  conscious  of  all  the  yielding 
softness  of  her,  none  the  less. 

**  Your  clothes  are  very  damp !  "   said  I. 

**They  will  be  dry  ere  morning,"  she  answered,  her 
voice  muffled. 

"  I  had  best  light  a  fire  then ! " 

**  There  is  no  need ;  't  is  very  warm,  I  do  think." 

"'Tis  good  against  wild  beasts  and  the  like,"    said  I. 

"Why,  then,  as  you  will,  Martin." 

Reaching  the  little  cave  at  last  she  would  have  had  me 
set  her  down;  but  I  bade  her  lie  still  and,  getting  to  my 
knees  within  the  cave,  I  laid  her  upon  her  ferny  bed, 
whereat  she  uttered  a  little  cry  of  pleasure. 

"Why,  Martin,"  said  she,  snuggling  down,  **here  is  a 
wondrous  soft  bed  and  fragrant." 

"  T  will  serve  until  I  can  contrive  a  better,"  quoth  I 
and,  coming  without  the  cave,  stood  looking  down  on  her, 
while  the  night  deepened  about  us  apace. 

"And  what  of  you,  Martin.'*" 

"I  shall  sleep  here,  beyond  the  fire.'* 

*'  Do  you  think  there  be  any  wild  beasts  hereabouts  ?  " 

*'  God  knoweth ! "  said  I.  **  Howbeit  you  may  sleep 
secure  and  fear  nothing." 

*'  I  know  that,  oh,  I  know  that ! "  answered  she  gently. 

**Do  you  lack  for  aught.'**' 

"Only  sleep,  Martin." 

**  Why,  then,  I  '11  set  aKout  making  our  fire."  So  I  fell 
to  gathering  twigs  and  driftwood,  of  which  there  was  no 
lack,  and  taking  out  my  tinder  box  ( albeit  the  tinder  was 
still  damp)  soon  contrived  to  have  the  fire  crackling  right 
liierrily.  This  done  and  with  store  of  fuel  to  hand,  I 
scooped  me  out  a  hollow  in  the  warm  sand  and  lying 
therein  found  myself  very  well,  the  aches  of  my  many 
bruises   notwithstanding.      fThe    night    air    struck    chill 


Haunted  of  Black  Bartlemy    195 

through  my  damp  garments  but  now,  stretched  in  the  com- 
fort of  the  fire,  there  grew  within  me  a  great  wonder  at 
our  miraculous  deHverance;  and  this  led  me  to  ponder 
upon  our  present  situation,  cast  thus  destitute  upon  this 
lonely  island  where,  devoid  of  every  comfort  and  necessity, 
we  must  needs  live  in  barbarous  fashion  as  best  we  might 
until  either  Penfeather  should  come  to  our  relief  or  we 
be  taken  off  by  some  chance  vessel.  And  supposing 
(thought  I)  that  neither  chance  befall  and  we  doomed  to 
drag  out  our  days  to  their  miserable  end?  Here  I  must 
needs  bethink  me  of  all  the  woeful  tales  I  had  heard  of 
marooners  or  poor,  shipwrecked  mariners  who  by  reason 
of  wretchedness  and  hardship  had  run  mad  or  become 
baser  than  the  brutes.  And  now  I  must  needs  take  out 
and  read  Penfeather's  crumpled  letter  and  bethinking  me 
how  (in  my  wicked  folly)  I  had  cast  overboard  the  packet 
of  instructions  whereby  we  might  at  least  have  found  all 
those  stores  he  made  mention  of,  from  cursing  him  I 
straightway  fell  to  bitter  recriminations  of  my  vain  self. 

"Are  you  asleep,  Martin?" 

"  No ! "  Here  I  heard  her  sigh,  and  a  rustle  as  she 
turned  on  her  leafy  couch. 

"Oh,  Martin,  surely  God  hath  had  us  in  His  care  to 
bring  us  safe  through  so  many  dangers,  and  methinks 
His  gentle  hand  will  be  over  us  still." 

"Have  you  no  fear  of  what  is  to  be?" 

"None,  Martin  —  not  now.  But  had  I  found  myself 
alone  here  —  hurt  and  helpless  in  the  dark — and  really 
alone,  oh,  methinks  I  should  have  died  indeed,  or  lost  my 
wits  and  perished  so.  Oh,  truly,  truly,  God  is  infinitely 
merciful  1 " 

Thus  (and  all  unknowing)  she  rebuked  my  ungrateful 
despondency.  For  (thought  I)  if  she,  a  woman  accus- 
tomed to  ease  and  comfort,  may  thus  front  our  desperate 
fortunes  undismayed  and  with  faith  unshaken,  how  much 
more  should  I,  a  man  inured  to  suffering  and  hardened  by 
privation?  Thus,  checking  my  gloomy  foreboding,  I  too 
breathed  a  prayer  to  God  for  His  infinite  mercies  and 


196     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

thereafter  fell  to  pondering  how  I  might  supply  our  more 
pressing  needs  with  such  small  means  as  I  possessed ;  and 
so,  in  a  while,  dozed  off  to  sleep. 

I  started  up,  knife  in  hand,  to  find  the  moon  very  big 
and  bright,  flooding  the  world  with  a  radiance  wondrous 
to  behold;  and  blinking  drowsily,  I  wondered  what  had 
waked  me.  Now  as  I  gazed  about  me,  the  place  seemed 
all  at  once  to  take  on  an  evil  look,  what  with  its  steepy 
sides  a-bristle  with  tangled  vines  and  bushes  and  pierced 
here  and  there  with  black  holes  and  fissures,  and  I  shivered. 
The  fire  being  low,  I,  minded  to  replenish  it,  was  groping 
for  my  fuel  when  I  started  and  remained  peering  up  at  the 
cliff  above,  with  ears  on  the  stretch  and  every  nerve 
a-tingle. 

The  night  was  very  calm  and  still,  for  the  wind  had 
died  away,  and  save  for  the  distant  murmur  of  the  surf 
beyond  the  reef,  nought  was  to  hear ;  then  and  all  at  once, 
from  one  of  those  black  holes  in  the  rock  above,  I  heard  a 
long-drawn,  sighing  breath  and  therewith  a  faint  scuf- 
fling. Slowly  and  cautiously  I  got  to  my  feet  and,  with 
knife  gripped  ready,  began  to  creep  thither;  and  now 
within  one  of  these  gloomy  crevices  in  the  rock-face  I 
saw  a  crouching  shape  that,  as  I  drew  nearer,  sprang 
away  with  a  snort  and  a  clatter,  and  I  saw  this  was  a  large 
goat. 

And  surely  no  poor  wight  was  ever  more  relieved  than 
I  as,  sheathing  my  knife,  I  wiped  the  sweat  from  me ;  and 
now  to  relief  was  added  a  mighty  satisfaction,  for  where 
was  one  goat  would  be  others.  Thus,  my  fears  allayed 
and  bethinking  me  how  savoury  was  a  mess  of  goat's 
flesh,  I  fell  a-watering  at  the  mouth  like  the  hungry 
animal  I  was. 

Having  no  more  mind  to  sleep  (and  the  moon  so  mar- 
vellous bright)  I  wandered  forth  of  these  shadowy  rocks 
and,  being  upon  the  sands,  stood  to  look  about  me.  Be- 
fore me  stretched  the  wide  ocean,  a  desolation  of  heaving 
waters  that,  rolling  shorewards,  broke  in  splendour  'neath 
the  moon ;  to  my  right  lay  a  curve  of  silver  beach  backed 


Haunted  of  Black  Bartlemy    197 

by  cliffs  and  groves  of  stately  palms ;  and  to  my  left  and 
hard  beside  these  bush-girt  rocks  was  a  great  and  lofty 
tree. 

Now  observing  this  tree  more  closely,  its  mighty  writhen 
branches  and  gnarled  roots,  and  how  it  stood  close  against 
the  opening  in  the  cliff,  an  uneasy  feeling  possessed  me 
that  this  tree  and  its  immediate  surroundings  were  all 
familiar,  almost  as  I  had  seen  it  before  though  I  knew 
this  could  not  be.  So  stood  I  chin  in  hand,  staring  about 
me,  and  ever  my  unease  grew;  and  then: 

So  that  night,  Martin,  the  moon  being  high  and  bright, 
I  came  to  that  stretch  of  silver  sand  where  they  lay  together 
rigid  and  pale  and,  though  I  had  no  tool  but  his  dagger  and 
a  piece  of  driftwood,  I  contrived  to  bury  them  'neath  the  great 
pimento  tree  that  stood  beside  the  rock-cleft,  and  both  in  the 
same  grave. 

It  was  for  all  the  world  as  though  Adam  had  repeated 
the  words  in  my  ear,  insomuch  that  I  glanced  round  as 
almost  expecting  to  see  him.  So  then  it  was  here  Black 
Bartlemy  had  died  at  the  hands  of  the  poor,  tortured 
Spanish  lady;  and  here  they  lay  buried,  their  bones 
mouldering  together  within  a  yard  of  me.  And  standing 
in  this  dismal  spot  I  must  needs  mind  Adam's  narrative, 
and  great  was  my  pity  for  this  poor  Spanish  lady. 

In  a  while  I  got  me  back  to  the  fire  and,  lying  down, 
fain  would  have  slept,  but  my  mind  was  full  of  Adam's 
story.  Howbeit,  after  some  while,  what  with  fatigue  and 
the  warmth  of  the  fire,  slumber  took  me. 

But  in  my  sleep  the  dead  arose  and  stood  fronting  each 
other  beneath  a  pallid  moon,  Bartlemy  in  all  the  bravery 
©f  velvet  and  lace  and  flowing  periwig,  and  the  Spanish 
lady  tall  and  proud  and  deadly  pale.  And  now  as  she 
shrank  from  his  evil  touch,  I  saw  that  her  face  was  the 
face  of  Joan  Brandon. 

Sweating  in  dumb  anguish  I  watched  Bartlemy  grip  her 
in  cruel  hands  and  bend  her  backward  across  his  knee 
while  she  stared  up  at  him  with  eyes  of  horror,  her  lips 


198     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

moving  in  passionate  entreaty.  But,  as  he  bent  over  her, 
was  a  flash  of  steel,  and  deep-smitten  he  staggered  back 
to  the  great  tree  and,  leaning  there,  fell  into  a  fit  of  wild 
laughter  so  that  the  silver  dagger  hilt  that  was  shaped 
like  a  woman  seemed  to  dance  and  leap  upon  his  quick- 
heaving  breast ;  then  as  he  swayed  there,  laughing  his  life 
out,  he  raised  his  face  to  the  pale  moon,  and  I  saw  that 
the  face  of  Black  Bartlemy  was  my  own. 


CHAPTER    XXII 

Divers  Adventures  Upon  the  IsI^nd 

Waking  to  a  glory  of  sun,  I  found  my  companion 
looking  down  on  me  all  anxious-eyed  where  she  knelt, 
her  hand  upon  my  shoulder. 

"Why,  Joan,"  said  I  drowsily,  "my  lady  — " 
"You  were  groaning,  Martin,  so  I  came  to  you." 
"Groaning?"   said  I,  flinching  from  her  touch,  "'twas 
nought!     An  ill  fancy  —  a  dream,  no  more.     But  here  is 
the  sun  well  up  and  I  a-snoring — " 

"  Nay,  you  groaned  and  cried  out,  Martin.  And  't  is 
yet  full  early." 

"  And  you  '11  be  mighty  hungry  and  for  that  matter 
so  am  I ! "  So  saying  I  rose  and,  without  more  ado,  strode 
away  across  the  sands  towards  the  reef.  Now  as  I  went, 
I  chanced  upon  a  great  turtle  shell  (to  my  joy!)  and 
divers  others  marvellously  shaped  and  tinted  and  chose 
such  as  might  serve  us  for  cups  and  the  like.  With  these 
beneath  my  arm  I  clambered  out  upon  the  reef  and  (the 
tide  being  out)  saw  many  rocks  amongst  which  I  had 
soon  collected  good  store  of  shellfish,  as  limpets,  oysters 
and  others  much  like  a  periwinkle,  though  larger.  Fill- 
ing my  turtle  shell  with  these,  I  took  it  'neath  my  arm 
again  and  went  on,  following  the  curve  of  the  reef,  clam- 
bering over  these  slimy  rocks,  and  found  it  no  small 
labour,  what  with  my  burden  and  the  heat  of  the  sun :  but 
I  persevered,  seeking  some  fragment  of  our  boat  or  the 
stores  wherewith  she  had  been  so  well  laden.  Yet,  and 
search  how  I  might,  found  nought  to  reward  me.  Having 
thus  traversed  the  whole  reef  and  explored  the  rocks  be- 
yond very  thoroughly,  I  cast  me  down  beside  the  lagoon 


200     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

to  bathe  my  hands  and  face  and  rest  myself  awhile.  Pres- 
ently, chancing  to  turn  my  head,  I  saw  a  place  of  trees 
hard  by,  and  started  up,  my  weariness  clean  forgotten. 
For  divers  of  these  trees  bore  great  clusters  of  yellowish 
fruit,  the  which  I  knew  for  a  sort  of  plantain,  very  whole- 
some and  of  delicate  savour.  So,  casting  out  my  limpets 
and  periwinkles,  I  hasted  to  pluck  good  store  of  this  fruit 
and,  with  my  turtle  shell  thus  well  laden,  hastened  back 
to  our  refuge  very  well  content. 

My  companion  being  absent,  I  seated  myself  in  the 
shade  and  began  opening  the  oysters  with  my  knife  as 
well  as  I  might;  in  the  which  occupation  she  presently 
found  me  and  grew  very  merry  at  my  clumsy  efforts. 
And  now  I  noticed  that  she  had  wrought  her  long  hair 
into  two  braids  very  thick  and  glossy,  also  she  had  some- 
how contrived  to  mend  the  rents  in  her  gown  and  her 
torn  sleeve. 

"Why,  you  have  combed  your  hair!"  said  I,  wonder- 
ing and  speaking  my  thought  aloud. 

**  With  my  fingers ;  they  must  be  my  comb  until  you  can 
make  me  a  better  —  alack,  my  poor  hair ! " 

**Why,  then,  you  must  have  a  comb  so  soon  as  I  can 
contrive  one.  But  now  see  the  breakfast  Nature  hath 
provided  us  withal !  " 

And  who  so  full  of  pleased  wonderment  as  she,  particu- 
larly as  regarded  the  fruit,  which  she  pronounced  deli- 
cious, but  my  shellfish  she  showed  small  liking  for,  though 
I  found  them  eatable  enough.  Seeing  her  so  pleased  I 
told  her  I  hoped  to  provide  better  fare  very  soon  and  re- 
counted my  adventure  with  the  goat. 

"  But,"  said  she,  "  how  shall  you  go  a-hunting  and  no 
firearms  ? ' 

"With  a  bow  and  arrows." 

"  Have  you  found  these  also  ?  " 

"No,  I  must  make  them.  I  shall  look  out  a  sapling 
shaped  to  my  purpose  and  trim  it  with  my  knife.  For 
the  cord  of  my  bow  I  will  have  leather  strips  cut  from  my 
jerkin." 


Adventures  Upon  the  Island    201 

"Aye,  but  your  arrows,  Martin,  how  shall  you  barb 
them  without  iron  ?  " 

"  True ! "  said  I,  somewhat  hipped.  But  in  that  mo- 
ment my  eye  lighted  on  a  piece  of  driftwood  I  had  gath- 
ered for  fuel  and,  reaching  it,  I  laid  it  at  her  feet. 
"  There,"  said  I,  pointing  to  the  heads  of  divers  rusty 
bolts  that  pierced  it,  "  there  is  iron  enough  to  arm  a 
score  of  arrows." 

"  But  how  shall  you  make  them,  Martin  ?  " 

"  Heat  the  iron  soft  and  hammer  it  into  shape." 

"But  you  have  neither  hammer  nor  anvil." 

"  Stones   shall   do." 

"  Oh,  wonderful ! "   she  cried. 

"  Nay,  it  is  not  done  yet ! "  said  I,  a  little  shamefaced. 

"And  how  may  I  help  you.''" 

"  Watch  me  work." 

"  Indeed,  and  I  will  keep  your  jSre  going.  So  come,  let 
us  begin." 

Our  meal  done,  I  gathered  twigs  for  kindling  and  a 
great  pile  of  driftwood,  of  which  was  no  lack,  and  with 
small  boulders  I  builded  a  fireplace  against  the  cliff  where 
we  soon  had  a  fire  drawing  merrily,  wherein  I  set  my 
precious  piece  of  timber.  Having  charred  it  sufficiently, 
I  found  it  an  easy  matter  to  break  out  the  iron  bolts  and 
nails ;  five  of  them  there  were,  of  from  four  to  eight  inches 
in  length,  and  though  the  ends  were  much  corroded  by  the 
sea  there  yet  remained  enough  sound  iron  for  my  purpose. 
And  now,  my  bolts  ready  for  the  fire,  I  began  to  look  for 
some  stone  that  might  ser^^e  me  for  hammer,  and  my  com- 
panion likewise.  Suddenly,  as  I  sought  and  mighty  dili- 
gent, I  heard  her  cry  out  to  me  and,  beholding  her  lean- 
ing in  the  cave  mouth,  all  pale  and  trembling,  came 
running. 

"What  is*t.?"  cried  I  —  struck  by  the  horror  of  her 
look. 

"Oh,  Martin!"  she  gasped.  "Oh,  Martin  —  'tis  in 
there  —  all  huddled  —  in  the  darkest  corner!  And  I  —  I 
slept  with  it  —  beside  me  all  night ! "     Coming  within  the 


202     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

cave,  I  looked  whither  her  shaking  hand  pointed  and  saw 
what  I  took  at  first  for  a  monstrous  egg  and  beyond  this 
the  staves  of  a  small  barrel;  then,  bending  nearer,  I  saw 
these  were  the  skull  and  ribs  of  a  man.  And  this  man  had 
died  very  suddenly,  for  the  skeleton  lay  face  down,  one 
bony  arm  folded  under  him,  the  other  wide-tossed,  and  the 
skull,  shattered  behind,  shewed  a  small,  round  hole  just 
above  and  betwixt  the  cavernous  eye-sockets ;  about  the 
ribs  were  the  mouldering  remains  of  a  leathern  jerkin  girt 
by  a  broad  belt  wherein  was  a  knife  and  a  rusty  sword; 
but  that  which  pleased  me  mightily  was  a  thing  still  fast- 
clenched  in  these  bony  fingers,  and  this  no  other  than  a 
heavy  hatchet.  So,  disturbing  these  poor  bones  as  little 
as  need  be,  I  took  the  hatchet  and  thereafter  sword  and 
knife;  and  then,  turning  to  go,  stopped  all  at  once,  for 
tied  about  the  bony  neck  by  a  leathern  thong  I  espied  a 
shrivelled  parchment.  Wondering,  I  took  this  also  and, 
coming  without  the  cave,  found  my  companion  leaning  as 
I  had  left  her  and  very  shaky. 

*'  Oh,  Martin ! "  said  she,  shivering.  *'  And  I  slept 
within  touch  of  it!" 

"  But  you  slept  very  well  and  he,  poor  soul,  is  long  past 
harming  you  or  any."  So  saying,  I  smoothed  out  the 
crackling  parchment  and,  holding  it  in  her  view,  saw  this 
writ  very  bold  and  clear : 

Benjamin  Galbally 
Slain  of  necessity  June  20,  1642 
This  for  a  sign  to  like  Rogues. 
Adam  Penfeather. 

"  Will  this  be  our  Adam  Penfeather,  Martin  ?  " 

'*  Indeed,"  answered  I,  "  there  is,  methinks,  but  one 
Adam  Penfeather  in  this  world,  the  which  is  just  as  well, 
mayhap." 

"  Then  he  murdered  this  poor  man  ?  " 

*'  Why,  the  fellow  had  this  hatchet  in  his  fist ;  it  hath 
lain  rusting  in  his  grasp  all  these  years,  so  methinks  his 
blow  came  something  too  late !    Though  he  must  be  mighty 


Adventures  Upon  the  Island    203 

quick  who  'd  outmatch  Penfeather,  I  guess.  No,  this  man, 
I  take  it,  died  in  fight.  Though  why  Adam  must  set  this 
placard  about  the  poor  rogue's  neck  is  beyond  me." 
"Let  us  go  away,  Martin.  This  is  an  evil  place." 
"  It  is ! "  said  I,  glancing  at  the  great  pimento  tree 
that  marked  the  grave  of  the  poor  Spanish  lady  and 
Black  Bartlemy.  "  Truly  we  will  seek  out  another  habi- 
tation and  that  at  once.  Howbeit,  I  have  gotten  me  my 
hammer."  And  I  showed  her  the  hatchet,  the  which,  unlike 
the  ordinary  boarding-axe,  was  furnished  with  a  flat  be- 
hind the  blade,  thus: 


Seeing  my  companion  so  anxious  to  be  gone,  I  left  my 
fire  to  bum  out  and,  giving  her  my  hand,  forthwith  turned 
my  back  on  this  place  of  death  nor  sorry  to  do  it. 

Following  the  base  of  the  cliiT,  we  found  an  opening  in 
the  rock  vaulted  and  arched  by  nature,  so  that  it  was  a 
wonder  to  behold,  and  so  came  to  that  curving  stretch  of 
white  sands,  bordering  the  lagoon,  the  which  we  there  and 
then  agreed  to  call  "  Deliverance  "  in  memory  of  our  es- 
cape. What  with  the  soft  sand  and  scattered  rocks  it  was 
ill-going  for  my  companion  but,  though  she  limped  pain- 
fully, she  held  bravely  on  nevertheless,  being  of  a  mighty 
resolute  mind  as  this  narrative  will  show. 

Now  as  we  went  slowly  thus,  I  pointed  out  caves  a-plenty 
and  very  proper  to  our  purpose,  but  she  would  have  none 
of  them  and  was  for  ever  lifting  her  eyes  to  the  cliffs  and 
tree-clad  greeny  slopes  beyond. 

"  Let  us  seek  above,"  said  she,  "  where  there  be  trees 
and  mayhap  flowers,  for  Martin,  I  do  love  trees." 

"  Nay  but,"  said  I,  "  none  save  a  bird  or  a  goat  may 
climb  yonder." 

"  Let  us)  be  patient  and  seek  a  way,  Martin." 


204     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

"  And  jou  all  bruised  and  lame !  " 

"  Nay,  I  am  very  well  and  —  see  yonder !  "  Looking 
whither  she  would  have  me,  I  saw,  beyond  this  great  jut- 
ting rock,  a  green  opening  in  the  cliffs  with  a  gentle  ascent. 

"  Oh,  Martin !  "  cried  she,  stopping  suddenly,  "  't  is  like 
England,  't  is  like  one  of  our  dear  Kentish  lanes ! "  And 
indeed  so  it  was,  being  narrow  and'  grassy  and  shady  with 
trees,  save  that  these  were  such  trees  as  never  grew  on 
English  soil. 

*'  Let  us  go,  Martin,  let  us  go !  " 

So  we  began  the  ascent  and  (despite  blazing  sun),  the 
slope  being  gradual,  found  it  easier  than  it  had  looked. 
On  we  went  and  though  she  often  stumbled  she  made 
nought  of  it  nor  stayed  until  we  were  come  to  a  green 
level  or  plateau,  whence  the  ground  before  us  trended 
downwards  to  a  wondrous  fertile  little  valley  where  ran  a 
notable  stream  'twixt  reedy  banks;  here  also  bloomed 
flowers,  a  blaze  of  varied  colours ;  and  beyond  these  again 
were  flowery  thickets,  a  very  maze  of  green  boskages  be- 
splashed  with  the  vivid  colour  of  flower  or  bird,  for  here 
were  many  such  birds  that  flew  hither  and  thither  on  gaudy 
wings  and  filled  the  air  with  chatterings  and  whistlings 
strange  to  be  heard. 

Now  beholding  all  this,  my  companion  sank  to  the 
ground  and  sat  very  still  and  silent,  like  one  rapt  in  pleas- 
ing wonder. 

"  Oh ! "  said  she  at  last  and  very  softly.  "  Surely  here 
is  an  earthly  paradise.     Oh,  Martin,  the  beauty  of  it ! " 

"  Yet  these  flowers  have  no  smell !  "  said  I.  "  And  for 
these  gaudy  birds  I  would  give  them  all  for  one  honest 
English  robin  or  sweet -throated  blackbird !  " 

But  she,  chin  in  hand,  sat  a-gazing  upon  this  prospect 
as  she  would  never  tire.  As  for  me,  I  began  to  look  around 
and,  the  more  I  looked,  the  better  I  liked  this  place, 
pleasantly  shaded  as  it  w^as  by  trees  and  affording  from 
this  eminence  a  wide  view  of  the  sea,  the  lagoon,  and  De- 
liverance Beach  below.  Moreover,  I  heard  near-by  the 
pleasant  sound  of  falling  water  and,  drawn  by  this,  came 


Adventures  Upon  the  Island    205 

to  a  flowery  thicket  and,  forcing  my  way  through,  paused 
suddenly,  as  well  I  might,  for  before  me,  set  in  the  face 
of  a  rock,  was  a  door.  All  askew  it  hung  and  grown  over 
with  a  riot  of  weed  and  vines;  and  behind  the  weather- 
worn timber  I  saw  the  gloom  of  a  cavern. 

Approaching  this  door  I  found  it  built  with  ship's 
timbers  exceeding  stout  and  strong,  joined  by  great  bat- 
tens clamped  with  bolts  and  nails,  and  in  the  midst  a  loop- 
hole; and  besides  this  I  saw  divers  shot-marks  in  these 
timbers,  the  which  set  me  a-wondering.  Now  having  my 
hatchet  in  hand,  I  set  about  cutting  away  bush  and  vines 
and,  forcing  wide  the  door  (the  which  swung  'twixt  great 
beams  like  jambs,  clamped  to  the  rock),  I  stepped  into  the 
cool  dimness  beyond.  The  place  was  irregular  of  shape 
but  very  spacious  and  lighted  by  a  narrow,  weed-choked 
crevice  high  up  that  admitted  a  soft,  greeny  glow  very 
pleasing  after  the  glare  of  the  sun ;  by  which  light  I  per- 
ceived that  from  this  cave  two  smaller  caves  opened.  Now 
seeing  this  place  had  once  been  the  abode  of  some  poor 
castaway,  I  sought  high  and  low  in  hopes  of  finding  some- 
tliing  to  our  use,  if  no  more  than  a  broken  cup,  but  came 
on  nothing  save  the  ruin  of  a  small  table;  the  place  was 
bare  as  my  hand.  I  was  yet  busied  in  my  fruitless  search 
when  came  my  companion,  all  pleased-eyed  wonderment. 

"  Why,  't  is  as  good  as  any  cottage !  "  cried  she. 

"  And  better  than  some,"  said  I,  "  for  here  is  no  thatch 
to  leak  and  no  windows  to  break  and  let  in  the  rain ! " 

"  Oh,  Martin,  for  a  broom ! "  said  she,  looking  around 
upon  the  floor,  ankle-deep  in  dead  leaves,  twigs  and  the 
like.     "  Oh,  for  a  broom !  " 

*'  These  leaves  be  well  enough  —  " 

**  But  better  for  a  broom,  Martin." 

"  Why,  then  a  broom  you  shall  have,"  said  I  and,  com- 
ing without  the  cave,  I  cut  twigs  sufficient  to  my  purpose 
and  divers  lengths  of  vine,  very  strong  and  tough,  and 
therewith  bound  my  twigs  about  a  stick  I  had  trimmed  for 
a  handle;  whiles  she,  sitting  upon  a  great  stone  that  lay 
hard  by,  watched  me  with  mighty  interest. 


2o6     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

"  You  are  very  clever,  Martin ! "  said  she. 

"  'T  is  very  rough,  I  doubt." 

**I  have  seen  many  a  worse  broom  used  in  England, 
Martin." 

"  'T  will  serve,  mayhap." 

"  T  is  excellent !  "  said  she,  and  taking  the  broom  from 
me  away  she  limped  with  it  forthwith  and  I,  standing 
without  the  cave,  presently  heard  her  sweeping  away 
(despite  her  bruises),  and  singing  sweet  as  any  mount- 
ing lark.  I  now  set  out  to  bring  away  such  things  as  I 
had  left  behind,  as  my  iron  and  the  turtle  shell  (the  which 
I  held  of  more  account  than  all  the  jewels  in  Adam's 
treasure) ,  and  on  my  way  stopped  to  cut  a  stout,  curved 
branch  that  I  thought  might  furnish  me  a  powerful  bow ; 
and  another  that,  bladed  with  iron,  should  become  a  for- 
midable spear.  Though  why  my  mind  should  run  to 
weapons  of  offence,  seeing  that  the  island,  so  far  as  I  knew, 
was  deserted  and  sheltered  no  wild  beasts,  I  know  not. 
Reaching  Deliverance  Sands  I  paused  to  look  about  me  for 
such  pieces  of  driftwood  as  might  serve  us  and  came  on 
several  full  of  nails  and  bolts,  some  of  these  timbers  being 
warped  with  age  and  others  comparatively  new.  And 
looking  on  these  poor  remains  of  so  many  noble  ships,  and 
thinking  of  the  numberless  poor  souls  that  had  manned 
them  and  gone  to  their  account,  I  could  not  but  feel  some 
awe  for  these  storm-rent  timbers  as.  I  handled  them.  And 
presently,  as  I  laboured,  I  spied  a  piece  new-painted  and, 
dragging  it  forth  from  sand  and  seaweed,  knew  it  for  the 
gunwale  of  our  own  boat.  This  put  me  in  great  hopes 
that  I  might  come  upon  some  of  our  stores  but,  though  I 
sought  diligently  then  and  for  days  after,  I  never  found 
anything  but  this  poor  fragment.  Having  laid  by  such 
timbers  as  showed  iron  of  any  sort,  I  went  my  way  and 
so  at  last  reached  our  first  shelter.  And  what  should  I 
espy  upon  a  ledge  of  rock  just  above  me  but  a  goat;  for 
a  moment  the  creature  blinked  at  me,  chewing  busily, 
then  scrambled  to  its  feet ;  but  in  that  instant  I  caught  up 
a  heavy  stone  that  chanced  handy  and  hurled  it ;  the  poor 


Adventures  Upon  the  Island    207 

beast  bleated  once  and,  rolling  down  the  rock,  thudded  at 
my  feet  where  I  despatched  it  with  my  knife.  My  next 
care  was  to  skin  it,  which  unlovely  task  I  made  worse  bj' 
my  bungling;  howbeit,  it  was  done  at  last  and  I  reeking 
of  blood  and  sweat.  None  the  less  I  persevered  and,  hav- 
ing cleaned  the  carcass,  I  cut  therefrom  such  joints  as 
might  satisfy  our  immediate  needs  and,  setting  them  in 
my  turtle  shell  with  my  irons,  hung  up  the  carcass  within 
the  coolest  part  of  the  cave,  out  of  reach  of  any  prowling 
beast.  This  done,  I  went  down  to  the  lagoon  and  laved 
my  arms  and  hands  and  face,  cleansing  myself  as  well 
as  I  might,  and  so,  taking  my  well-laden  turtle  shell  under 
one  arm  and  the  reeking  skin  beneath  the  other,  I  set  off. 
Now  it  was  midday  and  the  sun  very  hot,'  insomuch  that 
the  sweat  poured  from  me,  and  more  than  once  I  must 
needs  pause  to  moisten  my  hair  to  keep  off  the  heat.  At 
last,  espying  a  palmetto  that  grew  adjacent,  I  made  shift 
to  get  me  a  leaf,  whereof,  with  twigs  to  skewer  and  shape  it, 
I  made  me  the  semblance  of  a  hat  and  so  tramped  on  again^- 
Being  come  to  tlie  plateau  I  set  down  my  burdens,  very 
thankful  for  the  kindly  shade  and  the  sweet,  cool  wind 
that  stirred  up  here,  and  turned  to  find  my  companion 
regarding  me  pale-cheeked  and  with  eyes  wide  and  horror- 
struck. 

"Why,  what  now.?"  said  I,  taking  a  step  towards  her; 
but  seeing  how  she  shrank  away  I  paused  and,  glancing 
down  at  myself,  saw  my  clothes  all  smirched  with  the 
blood  of  the  goat.  "  How,  is  it  this  ?  "  said  I.  "  Well,  a 
little  blood  is  no  great  matter !  "  But  she  still  eyeing  me 
mightily  askance,  I  grew  angry.  "  Ha ! "  quoth  I,  "  you  '11 
be  thinking  doubtless  of  the  murders  aboard  ship  and  my 
bloody  jerkin?  Why,  then,  madam,  think  and  grow  as 
wise  as  you  may  ! " 

Saying  which  I  strode  off;  and  thus  I  presently  heard 
the  soothing  sound  of  falling  water,  yet  look  where  I  might 
could  see  none  save  that  in  the  little  valley  below.  Being 
direly  athirst  I  began  to  seek  for  this  unseen  rill,  and 
little  by  little  was  led  up  a  steep,  bush-grown  acclivity 


2o8     Black  Bartlemy*s  Treasure 

until,  all  at  once,  I  found  myself  in  a  right  pleasant  place ; 
for  here,  all  set  about  with  soft  mosses,  ferns  and  flowers, 
I  beheld  a  great  oval  basin  or  rocky  hollow  some  twelve 
feet  across  and  brimful!  of  pellucid  water  through  which 
I  might  see  the  bottom  carpeted  with  mosses  and  in  this 
water  my  image  mirrored;  and  what  with  the  blood  that 
fouled  me,  my  shaggy  hair  and  beard  and  the  shapeless 
thing  upon  my  head,  an  ill-enough  rogue  I  looked. 

This  pool  was  fed  by  a  little  rill  that  gurgled  down 
from  rocks  above  and,  having  filled  the  basin,  flowed  out 
through  a  wide  fissure  and  down  the  cliff,  to  lose  itself 
amid  flowery  banks  'twixt  which  it  ran  bubbling  joyously 
to  meet  the  river.  And  now,  having  satisfied  my  thirst  and 
found  the  water  very  sweet  and  cool,  I  stripped  and,  bath- 
ing me  in  this  pool,  found  gi'eat  solace  and  content,  inso- 
much that  (to  my  great  wonder)  I  presently  found  myself 
whistling  like  any  boy.  At  last  I  got  me  forth  mightily 
refreshed,  and  that  the  wind  and  sun  might  dry  me,  strove 
to  cleanse  my  garments  but,  finding  it  a  thankless  task, 
I  got  dressed  at  last,  but  my  chain  shirt  I  left  folded  be- 
side the  pool  and  I  much  more  comfortable  therefor. 

Following  the  dancing  rill,  I  clambered  down  the  rocks 
and  so  into  the  little  valley  where  ran  the  stream.  Fording 
this,  I  came  amid  thickets  where  was  a  glory  of  flowers 
of  all  colours,  but  one  in  especial  I  noticed,  white  and 
trumpet-shaped.  And  here  I  was  often  stayed  by  quickset 
and  creeping  plants,  their  stems  very  pliant  and  strong 
and  of  the  bigness  of  my  little  finger.  On  went  I  hap- 
hazard through  a  green  twilight  of  leaves,  for  here  (as 
hath  been  said)  were  many  trees  both  great  and  small, 
some  of  which  were  utterly  strange  to  me,  but  others  I 
knew  for  cocos-palms,  plantain  and  breadfruit,  the  which 
rejoiced  me  greatly;  and  hereabouts  I  found  growing 
great  bunches  of  black  fruit  like  to  grapes,  though  smaller, 
and  which  I  would  not  dare  touch  until,  seeing  divers 
birds  peck  at  them,  I  ventured  to  taste  and  found  them 
excellent. 

So,  gathering  some  of  these  to  stay  my  hunger,  I  pressed 


Adventures  Upon  the  Island    209 

on  despite  the  heat,  for  from  somewhere  before  me  was  the 
roar  of  great  waters,  and  forced  me  a  passage  with  my 
hatchet  until  this  denser  wood  gave  place  to  a  grove  of 
mighty  palm  trees ;  beyond  these  I  came  suddenly  upon 
a  great,  barren  rock  that  overhung  a  lake  whose  dark 
waters  were  troubled  by  a  torrent  hard  by  that  poured 
into  it  with  a  great  rushing  sound,  a  torrent  of  prodigious 
volume  though  of  no  great  height.  So  here  (thought  I) 
is  Adam's  "notable  fall  of  water,"  and,  sitting  down,  I 
fell  to  viewing  the  place,  munching  my  grapes  the  while. 

Opposite  me  the  lake  was  bounded  by  a  high-sloping 
sandy  beach  with  trees  beyond,  while  beyond  these  again 
rose  that  high,  tree-clad  hill  whose  barren,  rocky  dome  we 
had  seen  from  afar.  Now  the  waters  of  this  lake  flooded 
away  through  a  great  rent  in  the  surrounding  rocks,  be- 
twixt which  I  might  catch  a  glimpse  of  the  distant  sea; 
and  beholding  this  rushing  cataract,  I  must  needs  fall 
a-wondering  where  so  great  a  body  of  water  should  come 
from  and  to  ponder  on  the  marvels  of  Nature.  And  from 
this  I  got  to  considering  how  we  might  cross  this  stream, 
supposing  we  should  explore  the  island. 

I  was  yet  puzzling  this  when,  glancing  up,  I  found  the 
sun  already  westering,  wherefore  (not  minded  to  be  caught 
in  the  dark)  I  rose  and,  turning  my  back  on  these  troubled 
waters,  set  out  on  my  return.  Ever  and  anon  as  I  went  I 
caught  glimpses  of  that  rocky  eminence  with  its  silver 
thread  of  falling  water  whence  I  had  come  and,  guided 
by  this,  strode  on  amain,  bethinking  me  how  best  I  might 
cook  the  goat's  flesh  for  (despite  the  grapes)  I  was 
mightily  an  hungered.  But  reaching  the  denser  woods  I  lost 
my  way,  for  here  nought  was  to  see  but  the  greeny  gloom 
of  tangled  thickets  and  dense-growing  boskages  where  I 
must  needs  cut  a  path ;  yet  even  so  I  troubled  myself  with 
divers  bunches  of  grapes  that  my  companion  might  prove 
my  discovery.  Thus  my  progress  was  slow  and  weari- 
some, and  night  found  me  still  forcing  my  way  through 
this  tangled  underwood.  Being  lost  and  in  the  dark,  I 
sat  me  down  to  wait  for  the  moon  and  stayed  my  hunger 


2IO     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

with  the  grapes  meant  for  better  purpose,  but  one  bunch 
that  methought  the  better  I  preserved. 

Soon  this  leafy  gloom  glowed  with  a  silvery  radiance, 
and  by  this  light  I  went  on  and  so  at  last  came  upon  the 
stream.  But  hereabouts  it  ran  fast  and  deep  and  I  must 
needs  seek  about  till  I  found  a  ford.  Thus  the  moon  was 
high  as,  after  desperate  scramble,  I  came  out  upon  our 
grassy  plateau  and  saw  the  welcome  glow  of  a  fire.  More- 
over as  I  approached  I  smelt  right  savoury  and  most  de- 
lectable odour  and,  hurrying  forward,  saw  my  companion 
crouched  upon  that  stone  I  have  mentioned,  her  head 
bowed  upon  her  hands.  Hearing  my  step  she  glanced  up 
and  rose  to  her  feet. 

"  Are  you  come  at  last,  Martin.''  "  said  she  in  her  sweet 
voice.    "  Supper  is  ready  this  hour  and  more !  " 

"  Supper !  "  said  I. 

"  The  goat's  flesh.  I  made  a  stew,  but  fear  't  is  spoiled." 

"  Indeed,"  said  I,  "  it  smells  mighty  appetising !  " 

"  I  had  no  salt  nor  spices,  Martin,  but  in  a  little  garden 
yonder  that  is  all  run  wild,  I  found  some  sage  and  sweet 
herbs." 

"  Good ! "  said  I.  So  she  brought  me  to  the  fire  and 
there  in  our  great  turtle  shell  was  as  savoury  a  stew  as 
ever  greeted  eyes  of  hungry  man. 

By  her  directions  and  with  all  due  care,  I  lifted  this 
from  the  fire  and,  propping  it  with  stones,  we  sat  down 
side  by  side.  And  now  she  showed  me  two  of  my  smaller 
shells  and  dipping  hers  into  the  stew  I  did  the  like,  and 
though  we  had  no  salt  (the  which  set  my  wits  at  work) 
and  though  we  lacked  for  bread,  a  very  excellent  meal  we 
made  of  it,  and  the  moon  shedding  its  glory  all  about  us. 

The  meal  done  and  while  she  cleansed  the  things  at  a 
rill  that  murmured  hard  by,  I  made  up  the  fire  (for  after 
the  heat  of  the  day,  night  struck  chill)  and  by  the  time 
she  came  back  I  had  the  flame  crackling  merrily.  And  now 
as  she  sat  over  against  me  on  the  stone,  I  saw  she  had 
been  weeping.  And  she,  knowing  I  saw  this,  nodded  her 
head,  scorning  all  subterfuge. 


Adventures  Upon  the  Island    211 

"  I  feared  you  had  met  with  some  mischance  and  lay 
hurt,  Martin  —  or  worse — " 

"  You  mean  dead  ?  " 

"Aye,  dead." 

"Would  it  have  mattered  so  much?" 

"  Only  that  I  should  have  died  likewise ! "  ^ 

"Because  of  the  loneliness?"    asked  I. 

"  Indeed,"  she  sighed,  staring  into  the  fire,  "  because 
of  the  loneliness." 

"I  serve  some  purpose,  then,  in  the  scheme  of  things?  " 

"Yes,  Martin,  you  teach  a  woman  how  even  in  this 
desolation,  being  weak  and  defenceless,  she  may  trust  to 
a  man's  honour  and  find  courage  and  great  comfort  in 
his  strength.  'Twas  foolish  of  me  to  be  horror-struck  at 
your  stained  garments  when  you  had  been  slaving  that  I 
might  eat." 

"  'T  is  all  forgot ! "   said  I  hastily. 

"  And  as  for  the  murders  on  the  ship  —  oh,  Martin,  as 
if  you  might  ever  make  me  believe  you  had  committed 
murder  —  or  ever  could.  You  that  under  all  your  bitter- 
ness are  still  the  same  gentle  boy  I  knew  so  many  years 
ago." 

"  And  why  should  you  be  so  sure  of  all  this  and  I  but 
what  I  am?"  said  I,  staring  also  into  the  fire. 

"  Mayhap  because  I  am  a  woman  with  all  a  woman's  in- 
stinct to  know  the  evil  from  the  good." 

Hereupon  I  began  telling  her  of  my  exploration  and 
describing  the  wonders  I  had  seen,  as  the  fruit  trees  and 
waterfall.  Whereupon  she  grew  eager  to  explore  the  island 
so  soon  as  she  might.  In  a  while  I  arose  and,  drawing  my 
knife,  turned  where  I  knew  was  fern  a-plenty. 

"Where  away?"    she  questioned,  rising  also. 

"  I  must  make  you  a  bed." 

"  'T  is  done,  Martin,  and  yours  also." 

"  Mine !  "  said  I,  staring.  "  How  should  you  do  all 
this?" 

"  Witli  the  old,  rusty  sword,  Martin.     Come  and  see ! " 

So  she  brought  me  to  the  cave,  the  moon  flooding  the 


2  12     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

place  with  its  pale  radiance,  and  I  espied  a  goodly  bed  of 
ferns,  very  neatly  contrived,  in  one  corner. 

"  Bravely  done !  "  said  I. 

"  At  least,  Martin,  't  will  be  more  easy  than  your  bed 
of  sand,  and  methinks  you  shall  have  no  ill  dreams  to- 
night." 

"  Dreams ! "  quoth  I,  and  bethinking  me  of  my  last 
night's  hateful  visions  (and  now  beholding  the  beauty  of 
her)  I  shivered. 

"Are  you  cold.'"' 

«  No ! " 

"Why,  then,  good  night,  Martin." 

"Wait!"  said  I.  "Wait!"  And  hasting  out,  I 
brought  her  the  grapes  I  had  saved,  telling  her  that 
though  small  she  would  find  them  sweet  and  wholesome. 

"  Why,  Martin ! "  said  she,  under  her  breath  as  one 
greatly  surprised.  "  Why,  Martin ! "  and  so  vanished 
into  her  little  cave  forthwith,  and  never  a  word  of  thanks. 

Now  being  yet  haunted  by  my  dreams  of  yesternight,  I 
went  forth  into  the  moonlight  and  walked  there  awhile, 
my  eyes  uplifted  to  the  glory  of  the  heavens;  and  now  I 
must  needs  bethink  me  of  Godby's  star-time,  of  the  dark, 
lonely  road,  of  the  beckoning  light  beyond  and  the  wel- 
coming arms  of  love.  And  hereupon  I  scowled  and  turned 
to  stare  away  across  the  placid  sea  dimpling  'neath  the 
moon,  at  the  stilly  waters  of  the  lagoon,  and  the  white 
curve  of  Deliverance  Beach  below.  But,  look  where  I 
would,  I  could  see  only  the  proud,  lovely  face  and  the 
great,  truthful  eyes  of  this  woman  Joan  Brandon,  even 
when  my  scowling  brows  were  bent  on  that  distant  pimento 
tree  beneath  whose  towering  shadow  Black  Bartlemy  had 
laughed  his  life  out.  So  in  a  while  I  came  within  the  cave 
and  found  it  dim,  for  the  moonbeam  was  there  no  longer, 
and  cast  myself  upon  my  bed,  very  full  of  gloomy 
thoughts. 

"  Martin,  I  thank  you  for  your  grapes.  To-morrow  we 
will  gather  more!" 

"  Aye,  to-morrow ! " 


Adventures  Upon  the  Island    213 

"I  found  a  shirt  of  chain  work  by  the  pool,  Martin — " 

"  'T  is  mine." 

*'  I  have  set  it  by  against  your  need." 

"  Nay,  I  'm  done  with  it ;  here  is  no  fear  of  knives  in 
the  back." 

"Are  you  sleepy,  Martin.?" 

*'  No,  but  't  is  plaguy  dark." 

*'  But  you  are  there,"  said  she,  "  so  I  do  not  fear  the 
dark." 

"  To-morrow  I  will  make  a  lamp."  Here  she  fell  silent 
and  I  think  to  sleep,  but  as  for  me  I  lay  long,  oppressed 
by  my  thoughts.  "  Aye,  verily,"  said  I  at  last,  speaking 
my  thought  aloud  as  had  become  my  custom  in  my  soli- 
tude, "  to-morrow  I  will  contrive  a  lamp,  for  light  is  a 
goodly  thing."  Now  here  I  heard  a  rustle  from  the  inner 
cave  as  she  had  turned  in  her  sleep,  for  she  spake  no  word ; 
and  so,  despite  my  thoughts,  I  too  presently  fell  to  blessed 
slumber. 

Now  if  there  be  any  who,  reading  this  my  narrative, 
shall  think  me  too  diffuse  and  particular  in  the  chapters 
to  follow,  I  hereby  do  humbly  crave  their  pardon  but 
(maugre  my  reader's  weariness)  I  shall  not  abate  one 
word  or  sentence,  since  herein  I  (that  by  my  own  folly 
have  known  so  little  of  happiness)  do  record  some  of  the 
happiest  hours  that  ever  man  knew,  so  that  it  is  joy 
again  to  write.  Therefore  to  such  as  would  read  of  rogues 
and  roguish  doings,  of  desperate  fights,  encounters  and 
affrays,  I  would  engage  him  to  pass  over  these  next  few 
chapters,  for  he  shall  find  overmuch  of  these  things  ere 
I  make  an  end  of  this  tale  of  Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure. 
Which  very  proper  advice  having  duly  set  down,  I  will 
again  to  my  narrative. 


CHAPTER   XXin 
I  Become  a  Jack-of-all-Teades 

Early  next  morning,  having  bathed  me  in  the  pool  and 
breakfasted  with  my  companion  on  what  remained  of 
our  goat's  flesh,  I  set  to  work  to  build  me  a  fireplace  in 
a  fissure  of  the  rock  over  against  the  little  valley  and 
close  beside  a  great  stone,  smooth  and  flat-topped,  that 
should  make  me  an  anvil,  what  time  my  companion  col- 
lected a  pile  of  kindling  wood.  Soon  we  had  the  fire 
going  merrily,  and  whilst  my  iron  was  heating,  I  chose  a 
likely  piece  of  wood  and,  splitting  it  with  the  hatchet, 
fell  to  carving  it  with  my  knife. 

"What  do  you  make  now,  Martin.'*" 

"  Here  shall  be  a  spoon  for  you ;  't  will  help  you  in 
your  cooking." 

"  Indeed  it  will,  Martin !    But  you  are  very  skilful !  " 

"Nay,  'tis  simple  matter!"  said  I,  whittling  away  but 
very  conscious  of  her  watchful  eyes.  "  I  have  outworn 
many  a  weary  hour  carving  things  with  my  knife.  Given 
time  and  patience  a  man  may  make  anything  — " 

*"  Some  men ! "  said  she,  whereat  I  grew  foolishly 
pleased  with  myself.  The  wood  being  soft  and  dry  and 
my  knife  sharp,  the  spoon  grew  apace  and  her  interest 
with  it;  and  because  it  was  for  her  (and  she  so  full  of 
pleased  wonder)  I  elaborated  upon  it  here  and  there  until, 
having  shaped  it  to  my  fancy,  I  drew  my  iron  from  the 
fire  and  with  the  glowing  end  burned  out  the  bowl,  scrap- 
ing away  the  charred  wood  until  I  had  hollowed  it  suf- 
ficiently, and  the  spoon  was  finished.     And  because  she 


I  Become  a  Jack-of-all-Trades    215 

took  such  pleasure  in  it,  now  and  hereafter,  I  append  here 
a  rough  drawing  of  it. 


"  'T  is  wonderful !  "  cried  she,  turning  it  this  way  and 
that.     "  'T  is  admirable !  " 

"  It  might  be  better !  "  said  I,  wishing  I  had  given  more 
labour  to  it. 

"  I  want  no  better,  Martin ! "  And  now  she  would  have 
me  make  another  for  myself. 

"  Nay,  mine  can  wait.  But  there  is  jour  comb  to 
make." 

"How  shall  you  do  that,  Martin.?" 

"Of  wood,  like  the  Indians,  but  'twill  take  time!" 

"  Why,  then,  it  shall  wait  with  your  spoon ;  first  should 
come  necessities." 

"As  what.?" 

**  Dear  Heaven,  they  be  so  many ! "  said  she  with 
rueful  laugh.     "  For  one  thing,  a  cooking-pot,  Martin." 

"  There  is  our  turtle  shell !  "  said  I. 

"  Why,  't  is  very  well,  Martin,  for  a  turtle  shell,  but 
clumsy  —  a  little.  I  would  have  a  pan  —  with  handles 
if  you  could  contrive.  And  then  plates  would  be  a  good 
thing." 

"Handles.?"  said  I,  rubbing  my  chin.  "Handles  — 
aye,  by  all  means,  a  pan  with  handles,  but  for  this  we 
must  have  clay." 

"And  then,  Martin,  platters  would  be  useful  things ! " 

"  So  they  will ! "  I  nodded.  "  These  I  can  fashion  of 
wood." 

"  And  then  chairs  and  a  table,  Martin." 

"  True !  "  said  I,  growing  gloomy.  "  Table  and  chairs 
would  be  easy,  had  I  but  a  saw !    I  could  make  you  shelves 


2i6     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

and  a  cupboard  had  I  but  fortuned  to  find  a  saw  instead 
of  this  hatchet." 

"Nay,  Martin,"  said  she,  smiling  at  my  doleful  vis- 
age. "  Why  this  despond  ?  If  you  can  make  me  so  won- 
drous a  spoon  with  nought  but  your  knife  and  a  piece  of 
driftwood,  I  know  you  will  make  me  chairs  and  table  of 
sorts,  saw  or  no,  aye,  if  our  table  be  but  a  board  laid 
across  stones,  and  our  chairs  the  same." 

"  What  more  do  we  need.''  "  said  I,  sighing  and  scowling 
at  my  hatchet  that  it  was  not  a  saw. 

"Well,  Martin,  if  there  be  many  goats  in  the  island, 
and  if  you  could  take  two  or  three  alive,  I  have  been 
thinking  we  might  use  their  milk  in  many  ways  if  we  had 
pans  to  put  the  milk  in,  as  butter  and  cheese  if  you  could 
make  me  a  press.  Here  be  a-plenty  of  ifs,  Martin,  and  I 
should  not  waste  breath  with  so  many  if  you  were  not 
the  man  you  are ! " 

"As  how.''"  I  questioned,  beginning  to  grind  the 
hatchet  on  a  stone. 

"  A  man  strong  to  overcome  difficulty !  And  with  such 
clever  hands ! " 

Here  I  ground  my  hatchet  harder  than  before,  but 
scowled  at  it  no  longer. 

"And  what  more  would  you  have.''"  I  questioned. 

"If  you  could  make  our  front  door  to  open  and  shut.'' " 

"That  is  easily  done!    And  what  else  beside.''" 

"  Nay,  here  is  enough  for  the  present.  We  are  like  to 
be  very  busy  people,  Martin." 

*'  Why,  't  will  pass  the  time ! "  said  I. 

"  And  work  is  a  very  good  thing ! "  quoth  she  thought- 
fully. 

"  It  is  ! "  said  I,  grinding  away  at  my  hatchet  again. 

**  Oh,  Martin ! "  sighed  she  after  a  while,  *'  I  grow  im- 
patient to  explore  our  island ! " 

**  And  so  you  shall,  so  soon  as  you  are  strong  enough." 

"  And  that  will  be  very  soon ! "  said  she.  "  The  sea 
water  is  life  to  me  and  what  with  this  sweet  air,  I  grow 
stronger  every  day." 


I  Become  a  Jack-of-all-Trades    217 

"  Meantime  there  is  much  to  be  done,  and  here  sit  I 
in  idleness." 

"  Nay,  you  are  sharpening  your  axe,  and  I  am  talking 
to  you  and  wondering  what  you  will  make  next?  " 

"  A  lamp !  "   said  I. 

"How,  Martin?" 

"  With  a  shell,  the  fat  of  our  goat  rendered  down,  and 
cotton  from  my  shirt." 

**  Nay,  if  you  so  yearn  for  a  lamp,  I  can  do  this  much 
at  the  least." 

"  Good ! "  said  I,  rising.  "  Meantime  I  '11  turn  carpen- 
ter and  to  begin  with,  try  my  hand  at  a  stool  for  you  —  " 

"  But  if  you  have  no  saw,  Martin — ?  " 

"  I  will  make  me  a  chisel  instead."  Crossing  to  the  fire 
I  found  my  iron  red-hot  and,  taking  it  betwixt  two  flat 
pieces  of  wood  that  served  me  for  tongs,  I  laid  it  upon  my 
stone  anvil  and  fell  forthwith  to  beating  and  shaping  it 
with  the  hammer-back  of  my  hatchet  until  I  had  beaten 
out  a  blade  some  two  inches  wide.  Having  cooled  my  chisel 
in  the  brook,  I  betook  me  to  sharpening  it  on  a  stone  mois- 
tened with  water  and  soon  had  wrought  it  to  a  good  edge. 
I  now  selected  from  my  timber  a  board  sufficiently  wide  and, 
laying  this  on  my  anvil  stone,  began  to  cut  a  piece  from  the 
plank  with  hammer  and  chisel,  the  which  I  found  a  work 
requiring  great  care  lest  I  split  my  wood,  and  patience 
since  my  chisel,  being  of  iron,  needed  much  and  repeated 
grinding.  Howbeit  it  was  done  at  last  and  the  result  of 
my  labour  a  piece  of  wood  about  two  feet  square,  —  and 
behold,  the  seat  of  my  stool. 

Nor  was  my  companion  idle,  for,  while  all  this  wa^ 
a-doing,  she  set  the  turtle  shell  on  the  fire  with  water  and 
collops  of  meat  cut  with  my  knife  and,  soon  as  it  sim- 
mered, broke  into  it  divers  herbs  she  had  dried  in  the  sun; 
and  so  came  to  watch  and  question  me  at  my  work,  yet 
turning,  ever  and  anon,  to  stir  at  the  stew  with  her  new 
spoon,  whereby  I  soon  began  to  snuflF  a  savour  methought 
right  appetising.  As  time  passed  this  savour  grew  ever 
more  inviting  and  my  hunger  with  it,  my  mouth  a-water- 


2 1 8      Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

ing  so  that  I  might  scarce  endure,  as  I  told  her,  to  her  no 
small  pleasure. 

"  Had  I  but  a  handful  of  salt,  Martin ! "  sighed 
she. 

"Why,  comrade,"  said  I,  pausing  'twixt  two  hammer 
strokes,  "wherefore  this  despond?  If  you  can  make  stew 
so  savoury  and  with  nought  but  flesh  of  an  old  goat  and 
a  few  dried  herbs,  what  matter  for  salt?"  At  this  she 
laughed  and  bent  to  stir  at  her  stew  again. 

"  There 's  plenty  of  salt  in  the  sea  yonder,"  said  she 
presently. 

"True,  but  how  to  come  at  it?" 

"  How  if  we  boiled  sea  water,  Martin  ?  " 

*'  'T  is  method  unknown  to  me,"  said  I,  whittling  at  a 
leg  of  my  stool,  "  but  we  can  try." 

And  now  in  the  seat  of  my  stool  I  burned  three  good- 
sized  holes  or  sockets  and,  having  trimmed  three  lengths 
of  wood,  I  fitted  these  into  my  socket  holes,  and  there  was 
my  stool  complete.  This  done,  I  must  ndeds  call  her  from 
her  cooking  to  behold  it ;  and  though  it  was  no  more  than 
a  square  of  roughish  wood  set  upon  three  pegs,  she 
praised  and  viewed  it  as  it  had  been  a  great  elbow  chair 
and  cushioned  at  that.  Hereupon,  puffed  up  with  my 
success,  I  must  immediately  begin  to  think  upon  building 
us  a  table  and  chairs,  but  being  summoned  to  dinner,  I 
obeyed  her  gladly  enough.  And  she  seated  on  her  stool 
with  me  on  the  ground  beside  her  and  our  turtle-shell  dish 
before  us,  we  ate  with  hearty  good  will  until,  our  hunger 
appeased,  we  fell  to  talk. 

She.     'T  is  marvellous  how  well  I  eat. 

Myself.     'T  is  the  open  air. 

She.  And  the  work,  Martin.  I  have  swept  and  dusted 
our  cottage  every  hole  and  comer. 

Ml/self.     And  found  nothing  left  by  its  last  tenant? 

She.     Nothing. 

Myself.  Had  he  but  thought  to  leave  us  a  saw,  our 
chairs  and  table  would  have  been  the  better. 

She.     Then  you  will  make  them,  Martin? 


I  Become  a  Jack-of-all-Trades    219 

Myself.     Aye  —  with  time. 

She.     Oh,  'tis  bravely  determined. 

And  here,  for  a  moment,  I  felt  the  light  touch  of  her 
hand  on  my  shoulder. 

Myself.  They  will  be  very  unlovely  things  —  very 
rough  — 

She.     And  very  wonderful,  Martin. 

Myself.  As  to  these  goats  now,  't  is  an  excellent 
thought  to  catch  some  alive  and  rear  them. 

She.     I  could  make  you  excellent  cheese  and  butter. 

Myself.  If  I  cannot  run  them  down,  I  must  contrive 
to  wound  one  or  two  with  arrows. 

She.  Why,  then,  Martin,  why  not  head  your  arrows 
with  pebbles  in  place  of  iron  points.? 

Myself.  Good  again !  Or  I  might  make  a  couple  of 
gins,  running  nooses  cut  from  the  goat  skin.  Howbeit, 
I  '11  try ! 

Herewith  I  arose  and  she  also;  then  while  she  busied 
herself  to  scald  out  our  turtle  shell,  I  set  off  to  get  my 
goat  skin.  And  finding  it  where  I  had  left  it  hanging  on 
a  rock  to  dry,  I  fell  a-cursing  to  myself  for  very  chagrin ; 
for  what  with  the  heat  of  the  rock  and  the  fierce  glare  of 
the  sun,  here  was  my  goat  skin  all  shrivelled  and  hard 
as  any  board.  So  stood  I  scowling  at  the  thing,  chin  in 
hand  and  mightily  cast  down,  and  so  she  presently  found 
me;  and,  beholding  my  disconsolate  look,  fell  a-laughing. 

**  Oh,  Martin,"  said  she,  *'  't  is  well  there  are  some 
things  you  cannot  do ! "  Saying  which,  she  took  up  the 
skin  (albeit  it  smelt  none  too  sweet)  and  away  she  went 
with  it  into  the  cave.  So  I  got  me  back  to  my  carpentry 
and,  selecting  as  many  boards  as  I  required  for  the  width 
of  my  table,  fell  to  cutting  them  to  their  proper  lengths  with 
hammer  and  chisel.  And  despite  the  shade  of  the  mighty 
trees  that  girt  us  round  and  the  soft  wind  that  stirred, 
plaguy  hot  work  I  found  it ;  but  ever  and  anon  she  would 
bring  me  water,  in  one  of  our  shells,  cool  from  the  spring, 
or  would  sit  beside  me  as  I  laboured,  aiding  me  in  a  thou- 
sand ways  and  shewing  herself  vastly  capable  and  quick- 


2  20     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

witted;  thus  as  the  sun  sank  westwards  I  had  all  my 
boards  cut  to  an  even  size  and  two  of  the  legs,  though 
these,  being  square,  I  must  needs  chop  asunder  with  the 
hatchet;  yet  I  persevered,  being  minded  to  complete  the 
work  ere  nightfall  if  possible. 

"  But  where  are  your  nails  ?  "  said  she,  where  she  sat 
watching. 

**  Our  nails  be  too  few  and  precious,"  quoth  I,  pausing 
to  resharpen  my  hatchet.  "  I  shall  bum  holes  and  pin 
our  table  together  with  pegs." 

"  Why,  then,"  said  she  readily,  "  let  me  split  and  shape 
you  some  pegs." 

"  Spoke  like  a  true  comrade ! "  said  I  impulsively. 
*'  Sometimes  I  do  forget  you  are  — " 

"A  woman?"  she  questioned  as  I  paused;  and  I  won- 
dered to  see  her  eyes  so  bright  and  shining.  "  Here  is 
twice  you  have  named  me  your  comrade,  Martin,  and  so 
I  will  be,  so  long  as  I  may.  You  sometimes  would  call  me 
your  comrade  when  we  played  together  years  ago,  and 
'tis  a  good  name,  Martin.  Come,  now,  teach  me  how  I 
must  make  these  pegs  for  our  table."  So  I  showed  her 
how  to  split  divers  lengths  of  wood  and  shape  these  as 
round  and  smooth  as  might  be,  the  while  I  bored  holes 
for  them  with  a  heated  iron ;  and  thus  we  sat  side  by  side 
at  our  labour,  seldom  speaking,  yet  I  (for  one)  very  well 
content. 

At  length,  with  her  assistance,  I  began  setting  the 
framework  of  our  table  together,  joining  and  pinning  it 
with  my  wooden  pegs  driven  mighty  secure;  last  of  all  I 
laid  the  boards  across  and,  pinning  these  in  place,  there 
was  our  table;  and  though  it  was  most  rude  and  primi- 
tive so  far  as  looks  went,  yet  very  serviceable  we  were  to 
find  it. 

"Well,  Martin,"  said  she,  when  I  had  borne  it  into 
our  cave,  "  methinks  my  shelves  and  cupboard  are  none  so 
far  to  seek ! "  Here  she  falls  to  patting  this  unlovely  thing 
and  viewing  it  as  it  were  the  wonder  of  the  world ;  and  I 
must  needs  leap  upon  it  to  prove  its  strength. 


I  Become  a  Jack-of-all-Trades    221 

"  'T  is  over-heavy ! "  said  I,  giving  it  a  final  shake, 
"  but  't  will  serve !  " 

"  To  admiration ! "  said  she,  smoothing  its  rough  sur- 
face with  gentle  hand.  "To-night  we  will  sup  from  it. 
Which  reminds  me  that  supper  is  to  cook  and  our  meat 
nearly  all  gone,  Martin,  though  we  have  plenty  of  plan- 
tains left."  So  I  told  her  I  would  go  fetch  what  remained 
of  the  carcass  after  supper,  so  soon  as  the  moon  rose. 
And  now  whiles  she  bustled  to  and  fro,  I  chose  me  a  little 
piece  of  wood  and,  sitting  where  I  might  watch  her  at  her 
labours,  began  to  carve  her  the  hairpin  I  had  promised. 

"  Our  third  cave  should  make  us  a  very  good  larder ! " 
said  she,  busy  at  her  new  table  preparing  supper. 

«  Aye." 

**  'T  is  so  mavellous  cool ! " 

«  Aye." 

**I  think,  because  the  pool  lieth  above  it." 

"  Mayhap ! " 

*'  Indeed,  these  are  wonderful  caves,  Martin." 

"They  are." 

"Who  lived  here  before  us,  I  wonder.''" 

"  Penfeather,  like  as  not." 

"Why  should  you  think  this?" 

*'  Well,  that  door  yonder  was  never  a  carpenter's  work, 
yet  't  is  well-made  and  furnished  with  a  loophole,  narrow 
and  horizontal  to  give  a  lateral  fire,  the  which  I  have  seen 
but  once  ere  this.  Then  again  the  timbers  of  this,  door  do 
carry  many  marks  of  shot,  and  Adam  Penfeather  is  no 
stranger  to  such ;  violence  and  danger,  steel  and  bullet 
seem  to  follow  him." 

"Why,  so,  Martin?  He  hath  ever  seemed  a  man  very 
quiet  and  gentle,  most  unlike  such  rough  sailormen  as  I 
have  seen  hitherto." 

"True,"  said  I  —  "but  'neath  this  attitude  of  mind 
is  a  wily  cunning  and  desperate,  bloodthirsty  courage 
and  determination  worthy  any  pirate  or  buccaneer  of 
them  all." 

"Why,    courage    and   determination   are   good   things. 


2  22     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

Martin.  And  as  for  Master  Penfeather,  he  is,  as  I  do 
know,  a  skilful  navigator  and  very  well-read,  more  es- 
pecially in  the  Scriptures,  and  methought  your  friend." 

"  For  his  own  purposes  !  "  quoth  I. 

*'  And  what  are  these,  Martin  ?  " 

At  this  I  merely  scowled  at  the  wood  I  was  car\'ing, 
whereupon  she  questioned  me  further: 

"  Master  Adam  is  such  a  grave  and  sober  man !  " 

"True!"  said  I. 

"And  so  wise  in  counsel  —  " 

*'  Say,  rather,  cunning !  " 

"Though  to  be  sure  he  once  had  a  poor  man  beaten 
cruelly." 

"Wherein  he  was  exactly  right!"  said  I,  grinding  my 
teeth  at  memory  of  Red  Andy.  "  Aye,  there  Penfeather 
was  very  right ;  this  fellow  was  a  vile  and  beastly  rogue ! " 

"What  dreadful  thing  had  he  done,  Martin.?" 

"  Stared  at  you,"  said  I,  and  stopped ;  and,  glancing  up, 
found  her  regarding  me  with  look  mighty  strange. 

"Did  you  mind  so  much.''"   she  questioned. 

"  No  whit,  madam.    Why  should  I  ?  " 

**  Aye,  why,  indeed ! "  said  she  and  turns  to  her  cook- 
ing again  and  I  to  my  carving;  yet  in  a  little,  hearing  her 
gasp,  I  glanced  up  to  find  her  nigh  stifled  with  her 
laughter. 

*'  Ha,  why  must  ye  laugh,  madam  ?  "   I  demanded. 

"  Oh,  Martin ! "  said  she.  "  And  must  this  poor  man 
be  whipped  —  and  for  a  mere  look?  And  you  so  fierce 
withal !  I  fear  there  be  many  men  do  merit  whipping,  if 
this  be  sin  so  great." 

*'  I  see  no  reason  in  your  laughter,  my  lady ! "  quoth 
I,  scowling  up  at  her. 

"Because  you  have  no  gift  of  laughter,  my  lord!" 
answered  she,  and  turned  her  back  on  me. 

Here  I  came  nigh  to  tossing  her  half-finished  hairpin 
into  the  fire ;  but,  seeing  her  turn  her  head,  carved  on  for 
very  shame. 

**  And  are  you  so  very  angry,  Martin  ?  "  I  bent  to  sharpen 


I  Become  a  Jack-of-all-Trades    223 

my  knife.  "  I  would  that  you  might  laugh  yourself  — 
once  in  a  while,  Martin."  I  tested  my  knife  on  my  thumb. 
"  You  are  always  so  grave,  Martin,  so  very  solemn  and 
young !  "  Finding  my  knife  still  blunt,  I  went  on  sharpen- 
ing it.  Here  and  all  suddenly  she  was  beside  me  on  her 
knees  and  clasping  my  knife-hand  in  hers.  "  Indeed,  I 
had  no  thought  to  anger  you,  Martin.  Are  you  truly 
angered,  or  is  it  only  that  you  are  so  very  —  hungry.'"' 
Now  here  I  glanced  at  her  and,  beholding  all  the  roguish 
mischief  in  her  eyes,  try  how  I  might,  I  could  not  but 
smile  too. 

"  A  little  of  both,  comrade ! "  said  I.  "  Though  verily 
I  am  a  surly  animal  by  nature."  • 

"Indeed,  yes,  Martin,"  she  sighed,  "yet  a  very  com- 
fortable animal  and  though  strong  and  fierce  and  woe- 
fully trying  at  times,  a  very  gentle  animal  to  such  as 
know  you." 

"  And  do  you  know  me  so  well.'' " 

"  Better  than  you  think,  oh,  a  great  deal  better !  Be- 
cause I  am  a  woman.     And  now  are  we  friends  again  .f* " 

"  Yes ! "  said  I  heartily.  "  Yes  !  "  And  away  she  went 
to  her  cooking  and  I  mighty  glad  I  had  not  destroyed  her 
hairpin  the  which  (my  knife  being  sharp)  I  began  to 
ornament  with  all  sorts  of  elaborations.  Presently  back 
she  came,  spoon  in  one  hand,  stool  in  the  other,  and  sat 
to  watch  me  at  work. 

"What  do  you  make  now,  Martin?" 

"  A  pin  for  your  hair," 

"  Why,  't  is  beautiful !  " 

"  'T  is  scarce  begun  yet !  " 

Here  she  must  needs  lavish  all  manner  of  praises  on  my 
skill  until  I  came  nigh  cutting  myself. 

" How  many  will  you  make  me,  Martin?" 

"  As  many  as  you  will." 

"  Three  should  suffice." 

"Why,  you  have  a  prodigious  lot  of  hair." 

"Do  you  think  so,  Martin?"  asked  she,  glancing  down 
at  the  two  great  bi^aids  that  fell  over  her  bosom  well-nigh 


2  24     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

to  her  waist.  *'  'T  was  well  enough  in  England,  but  here 
'tis  greatly  in  my  way  and  hampers  me  in  my  work.  I 
had  thought  of  cutting  it  off." 

"Then  don't." 

"Why  not,  Martin.?" 

"  Well,"  said  I,  glancing  at  the  nearest  braid  that  showed 
coppery  lights  where  the  setting  sun  caught  it,  "well,  be- 
cause— "  and  finding  nought  else  to  say,  I  fell  to  my 
carving  again  and  away  she  went  to  her  cooking. 

"  Martin,"  said  she  at  last,  "  what  do  you  know  of 
Master  Penfeather.?  Where  did  you  fall  in  with  him, 
and  why  is  his  life  so  threatened?  " 

*'  All  by  reason  of  Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure ! " 

*'  Treasure ! "  said  she ;  and  back  she  came  and  on  to 
her  stool,  all  in  a  moment.     "  Tell  me  of  it,  Martin ! " 

"  'T  is  a  great  treasure  of  gold  and  j  ewels  and  such." 

"  And  who  is  Black  Bartlemy  ?  " 

*'A  foul  rogue  of  a  pirate  that  was  killed  by  a  poor 
Spanish  lady  and  lieth  buried  with  her  under  the  great 
pimento  tree  on  the  beach  yonder." 

"  Oh,  Martin ! "  said  she,  getting  up  that  she  might 
behold  the  tree.  "  I  knew,  I  knew  't  was  an  evil  place !  And 
the  poor  lady  died  too  ?  " 

**  He  killed  her  after  she  had  stabbed  him ! " 

"How  do  you  know  of  this?  " 

*'Adam  Penfeather  told  me;  he  saw  it  done!"  Here- 
upon she  sat  down  and  was  silent  awhile. 

*'  And  where  is  this  great  treasure?  " 

"  On  this  island ! " 

"Here?"  said  she,  starting  to  her  feet  again.  "Here, 
Martin?  " 

**Aye,  'twas  this  I  was  despatched  to  secure,  after  I 
had  been  rapped  over  the  head  with  a  pistol-butt ! " 

**  And  how  must  you  find  it?  " 

"I  never  shall;  the  secret  of  it  was  in  the  packet  I 
tossed  overboard.     Adam  may  find  it  himself  an  he  will." 

"And  you  have  no  desire  for  this  treasure?" 

*'None  in  the  world."    And  now  (at  her  earnest  solici- 


I  Become  a  Jack-of-all- Trades    225 

tation)  I  told  her  all  my  association  with  Adam,  of  my 
haunted  days  and  nights  aboard  ship  and  my  suspicions 
of  Tressady;  only  I  spoke  nothing  of  Adam's  avowed 
intent  to  steal  the  Faithfvll  Friend  to  his  own  purposes. 

"  Oh,  wonderful ! "  said  she,  when  I  had  done,  and  then 
again ;  "  Oh,  wonderful !  So  this  was  why  we  were  cut 
adrift.  Truly  Master  Penfeather  hath  quick  and  subtle 
wits." 

"  A  guileful  rogue  —  and  very  wily ! "  said  I,  clenching 
my  fist. 

"But  wherein  is  he  rogue,  Martin.?" 

**  How ! "  quoth  I,  "  was  it  not  a  wicked,  vile  and  most 
roguish  act  to  set  you  adrift  thus,  to  run  the  peril  of  sea 
and  a  desolate  island  —  " 

"  What  other  could  he  do,  Martin,  and  the  ship  good 
as  taken  by  the  mutineers  ?  I  heard  them  shouting  —  for 
me !  "  and  here  she  shivered.  "  True,  we  have  faced  perils, 
have  lost  all  our  stores,  but  at  least  here  am  I  —  safe  with 
you,  Martin ! "  Saying  which,  she  rose  and  presently 
summoned  me  to  our  evening  meal. 

Having  supped,  I  took  beneath  my  arm  my  trusty 
sword  (the  which  I  had  sharpened  and  burnished  as  well 
as  I  might)  being  minded  to  fetch  what  remained  of  our 
goat;  but  now  she  came  very  earnest  to  go  with  me,  and 
I  agreeing  readily  enough,  we  set  out  together  forthwith. 


CHAPTER   XXIV 

Of  my  Encounter  Beneath  Baetlemy's  Tree 

The  moon  was  very  bright,  casting  great,  black  shadows 
athwart  our  way,  and  now,  once  our  familiar  surround- 
ings were  left  behind,  we  fell  silent  or  spake  only  in  low 
voice,  awed  by  the  universal  hush  of  all  things ;  for  the 
night  was  very  still  and  hot  and  breathless,  and  not  a 
leaf  stirred  and  no  sound  to  hear  save  the  unceasing  roar 
of  the  surf. 

"  Martin,"  said  she,  very  softly,  "  here  is  a  night  of 
such  infinite  quiet  that  I  grow  almost  afraid  — " 

"  Of  what  ?  "  I  demanded,  pausing  to  look  down  on  her 
where  she  limped  beside  me.  And  then,  'twixt  my  teeth, 
"  Is  it  me  you  fear?  '* 

"  Ah,  no,  no ! "  cried  she,  slipping  her  hand  within  my 
arm.  "  Never,  never  that,  you  foolish  Martin ! "  And 
here  she  looked  at  me  with  such  a  smile  that  I  must  needs 
glance  otherwhere,  yet  methought  her  cheeks  showed  pale 
in  the  moonlight. 

"Why,  then,  what's  amiss?"  I  questioned,  as  we  went 
on  again  and  I  very  conscious  of  her  hand  yet  upon  my 
arm. 

"  I  know  not,"  she  sighed,  "  't  is  the  stillness,  mayhap, 
the  loneliness  and  dreadful  solitude ;  I  feel  as  though  some 
danger  threatened." 

"  A  storm,  belike,"  said  I,  glancing  round  about  us  and 
across  the  placid  sea. 

"  Oh,  Martin,  't  is  hateful  to  be  a  woman !  Why  should 
I  fear  thus  and  no  reason ;  't  is  folly !  "  And  here  she  must 
pause  to  stamp  her  foot  at  herself.  "  And  yet  I  do  fear !  " 
said  she  after  a  while.  "  Oh,  Martin,  glad  am  I  to  have 
man  like  you  beside  me." 


Beneath  Bartlemy's  Tree       227 

"  Though  another  man  might  serve  as  well ! "  said  I. 
"  Of  course?  " 

"  Of  course,  Martin !  " 

At  this  I  turned  to  scowl  at  the  placid  sea  again. 

"Any  man?"  said  I  at  last. 

*'0h,  Martin,  no  —  how  foolish  you  do  grow  —  any 
man  might  be  evil  as  Black  Bartlemy." 

"  I  've  heard  I  am  much  like  him  in  looks." 

"  But  then  you  are  Martin,  and  he  was  —  Black  Bar- 
tlemy." 

After  this  we  were  silent  a  great  while  nor  spoke  again 
until  we  had  traversed  the  whole  length  of  Deliverance 
Sands,  then: 

*'  What  manner  of  man  ?  "   I  demanded. 

Now  at  this  she  turned  to  look  at  me,  and  I  saw  her  lips 
quiver  to  a  little  smile  that  came  but  to  vanish  again. 

"Something  your  sort,  Martin,  but  without  your  gloom 
and  evil  tempers,  and  one  who  could  laugh  betimes." 

"  Sir  Rupert?  "  quoth  I. 

*'  He  was  indeed  very  gay  and  merry-hearted ! " 
said  she. 

"Yet  suffered  you  to  be  beguiled  and  cast  adrift  to 
your  great  peril !  " 

"  But  stayed  to  do  his  share  of  the  fighting,  Martin." 

**  Ha !  "  said  I,  scowling,  "  't  is  great  pity  we  may  not 
change  places,  he  and  I !  " 

"Would  you  change  places  with  him  —  willingly, 
Martin?" 

"  Aye  —  I  would  so ! "  At  this  she  whipped  her  hand 
from  my  arm  and  turned  to  frown  up  at  me  whiles  I 
scowled  sullenly  on  her. 

"Why,  then.  Master  Conisby,"  said  she,  "I  would  you 
were  anywhere  but  here.  And  know  this  —  when  you 
scowl  so,  all  sullen-eyed,  I  know  you  for  the  very  image  of 
Black  Bartlemy ! " 

Now  as  she  spake  thus,  we  were  standing  almost  in  the 
very  shadow  of  that  tall  pimento  tree  beneath  which 
Bartlemy  had  laughed  and  died,  and  now  from  this  gloomy 


2  28      Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

shadow  came  something  that  whirred  by  my  ear  and  was 
gone.  But  in  that  moment  I  had  swept  my  companion 
behind  a  rock  and,  with  sword  advanced,  leapt  straight 
for  the  tree;  and  there,  in  the  half-light,  came  on  a  fan- 
tastic shape  and  closed  with  it  in  deadly  grapple.  My 
rusty  sword  had  snapped  short  at  the  first  onset,  yet 
twice  I  smote  with  the  broken  blade  while,  arm  locked  with 
arm,  we  writhed  and  twisted.  To  and  fro  we  staggered 
and  so  out  into  the  moonlight,  and  I  saw  my  opponent  for 
an  Indian.  His  long  hair  was  bound  by  a  fillet  that  bore 
a  feather,  and  a  feather  cloak  was  about  him;  this  much 
I  saw  as  we  strove  together.  Twice  he  broke  my  hold  and 
twice  I  grappled  him,  and  ever  we  strove  more  fiercely, 
he  with  his  knife  and  I  with  my  broken  sword,  and  once  I 
felt  the  searing  pain  of  a  wound.  And  now  as  we  swayed, 
locked  together  thus,  I  saw,  over  his  bowed  shoulder,  my 
lady  where  she  crouched  against  a  rock  to  watch  us  and, 
knowing  myself  hurt  and  my  opponent  very  mighty  and 
strong,  great  fear  seized  me. 

*'  Run,  Joan !  "  cried  I,  gasping.  "  Oh,  Damaris  — 
run  back ! " 

"Never,  Martin  —  never  without  you.  If  you  must 
die  —  I  come  with  you ! " 

Mightily  heartened  by  her  voice,  I  strove  desperately 
to  secure  the  hold  I  sought,  but  my  antagonist  was  supple 
as  any  eel ;  moreover  his  skin  was  greased,  after  the  manner 
of  Indian  warriors,  but  in  our  struggling  we  had  come  nigh 
to  the  rock  where  crouched  my  lady  and,  biding  my  time, 
I  let  go  my  broken  sword  and,  seizing  him  by  a  sort  of 
coll^  he  wore,  I  whirled  him  backward  against  the  rock, 
saw  his  knife  fly  from  his  hold  at  the  impact,  felt  his  body 
relax  and  grow  limp  and  then,  as  my  grasp  loosened, 
staggered  back  from  a  blow  of  his  knee  and  saw  him  leap 
for  the  lagoon.  But  I  (being  greatly  minded  to  make  an 
end  of  him  and  for  good  reasons)  set  after  him  hotfoot 
and  so  came  running  hard  behind  him  to  the  reef;  here, 
the  way  being  difficult,  I  must  needs  slack  my  pace  but  he, 
surer-footed,  ran  fleetly  enough  until  he  was  gotten  well- 


Beneath  Bartlemy's  Tree      229 

nigh  to  the  middle  of  the  reef.  There  for  a  moment  he 
paused  and,  looking  back  on  me  where  I  held  on  in  pur- 
suit, I  saw  his  dark  face  darker  for  a  great  splash  of 
blood;  suddenly  he  raised  one  hand  aloft,  shaking  it  to 
and  fro,  and  so  vanished  down  the  rocks.  When  I  came 
there  it  was  to  behold  him  paddling  away  in  a  long, 
narrow  piragua.  Panting  I  stood  to  watch  (and  yearn- 
ing for  a  bow  or  firelock)  until  his  boat  was  hardly  to  be 
seen  amid  the  moonlit  ripples  that  furrowed  the  placid 
waters ;  yet  still  I  watched,  but,  feeling  a  hand  touch  me, 
turned  to  find  my  lady  beside  me. 

"  Martin,"  said  she,  looking  up  at  me  great-eyed,  "  oh, 
Martin,  you  are  wounded!  Come  let  me  cherish  your 
hurts ! " 

"  Why,  Damaris,"  said  I,  yet  panting  with  my  running, 
"  you  said  this  to  me  when  I  fought  the  big  village  boy 
years  agone." 

"  Come,  Martin,  you  are  bleeding." 

"Nought  to  matter  —  and  I  let  him  go  —  to  bring 
others  like  enough  —  to-morrow  I  will  make  my  bow  — 
nay  —  I  can  walk."  But  now  indeed  sea  and  rocks  grew 
all  blurred  and  misty  on  my  sight,  and  twice  I  must  needs 
rest  awhile  ere  we  came  on  Deliverance  Sands.  And  so 
homewards,  a  weary  journey  whereof  I  remember  nothing 
save  that  I  fell  a-grieving  that  I  had  suffered  this  Indian 
to  escape. 

So  came  we  to  the  plateau  at  last,  her  arm  about  me 
and  mine  upon  her  shoulders ;  and,  angered  at  my  weak- 
ness, I  strove  to  go  alone,  yet  reeled  in  my  gait  like  a 
drunken  man  and  so  suffered  her  to  get  me  into  our  cave 
as  she  would.  Being  upon  my  bed  she  brought  the  lamp 
and,  kneeling  by  me,  would  examine  my  hurt  whether  I 
would  or  no,  and  I  being  weak,  off  came  my  shirt.  And 
then  I  heard  her  give  a  little,  gasping  cry. 

"Is  it  so  bad?"  asked  I,  finding  my  tongue  more  un- 
ready than  usual. 

"Nay,   'tis  not  —  not  your  —  wound,  Martin." 

"Then  what?" 


230     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

"Your  poor  back  —  all  these  cruel  scars!  Oh, 
Martin ! " 

**  Nought  but  the  lash !  They  whipped  us  well  aboard 
the  Esmeralda  galleass."  In  a  while  I  was  aware  of  her 
soft,  gentle  hands  as  she  bathed  me  with  water  cool  from 
the  spring;  thereafter  she  made  a  compress  of  moss  and 
leaves  and,  laying  it  to  my  wound,  bound  it  there  as  well 
as  she  might,  the  which  I  found  very  grateful  and  com- 
forting. This  done  she  sat  close  beside  me  to  hush  and 
soothe  me  to  sleep  as  I  had  been  a  sick  child.  And  I,  lying 
'twixt  sleep  and  wake,  knew  I  might  not  rest  until  I  told 
her  what  I  had  in  mind. 

"  Damaris,"  said  I,  "  this  night  I  lied  to  you  —  I  would 
not  have  another  man  in  my  place  —  now  or  —  ever!" 
and  so  sank  to  sleep. 

Next  day  I  awoke  early,  and  my  wound  was  very  pain- 
ful and  troublesome ;  this  notwithstanding,  I  presently  got 
me  out  into  the  early  sunshine  and,  to  my  wonder,  found 
the  fire  alfeady  lighted  and  no  sign  of  my  companion. 
Hereupon  I  fell  to  shouting  and  hallooing  but,  getting  no 
answer,  sat  me  down  mighty  doleful  and,  seeing  her  stool 
where  it  stood  straddled  on  its  three  legs,  I  cursed  it  for 
its  unsightliness  and  turned  my  back  on  it.  And  now, 
crouched  in  the  sunlight,  I  grew  mightily  sorry  for  myself 
thus  solitary  and  deserted,  and  the  hurt  in  my  shoulder 
all  on  fire.  And  in  a  little,  my  self-love  gave  place  to  a 
fretful  unease,  so  that  I  must  needs  shout  her  name  again 
and  again,  listening  for  sound  of  her  voice,  for  some  rustle 
to  tell  me  she  was  nigh,  but  heard  only  the  faint  booming 
of  the  surf.  So  I  arose  and  (albeit  I  found  my  legs 
mighty  unwilling)  came  out  upon  the  plateau,  but  look 
how  and  where  I  might,  saw  only  a  desolation  of  sea  and 
beach,  whereupon,  being  greatly  disquieted,  I  set  out, 
minded  to  seek  her.  By  the  time  I  reached  Deliverance 
the  sun  was  well  up,  its  heat  causing  my  wound  to  throb 
and  itch  intolerably,  and  I  very  fretful  and  peevish.  But 
as  I  tramped  on  and  no  trace  of  her,  I  needs  must  remem- 
ber how  I  had  sought  her  hereabouts  when  I  had  thought 


Beneath  Bartlemy's  Tree      231 

her  dead,  whereupon  a  great  and  unreasoning  panic  seized 
me,  and  I  began  to  run.  And  then,  all  at  once,  I  spied  her. 
She  was  sitting  upon  a  rock,  her  head  bowed  wearily  upon 
her  hands  and,  seeing  how  her  shoulders  heaved,  I  knew 
she  was  bitterly  a-weeping.  Therefore  I  stopped  and, 
glancing  from  her  desolate  figure  round  about  upon  her 
desolate  surroundings,  knew  this  grim  solitude  for  the 
reason  of  her  tears.  At  this  thought  a  wave  of  hot  anger 
swept  over  me  and  a  rage  that,  like  my  panic,  reasoned  not 
as,  clenching  my  fists,  I  strode  on.  Suddenly  she  looked 
up  and,  seeing  me,  rose  at  once  and,  lifting  the  great  turtle 
shell,  limped  wearily  towards  me  with  this  borne  before 
her. 

"  Ha,"  said  I,  viewing  her  tear-wet  cheeks  as  she  came, 
"must  ye  weep,  madam,  must  ye  weep.'"' 

"May  I  not  weep,  Martin.'"'  said  she,  head  pitifully 
a-droop.  "  Come,  let  us  go  back ;  you  look  very  pale, 
't  was  wrong  of  you  to  come  so  far !  Here  is  our  break- 
fast; 'tis  the  best  I  can  find."  And  she  showed  me  a  few 
poor  shellfish. 

"  Give  me  the  turtle  shell !  "  said  I. 

**  Indeed  I  can  bear  it  very  easily,  Martin.  And  you  so 
white  and  haggard  —  your  wound  is  troubling  you.  Come, 
let  me  bathe  it  —  " 

"  Give  me  the  turtle  shell !  " 

"No,  Martin,  be  wise  and  let  us  — " 

"Will  you  gainsay  me  —  d'ye  defy  me.f"' 

"Oh,  Martin,  no,  but  you  are  so  weak  — " 

"  Weak !  Am  I  so  ?  "  And  stooping,  I  caught  her  up 
in  my  arms,  upsetting  the  turtle  shell  and  spilling  the 
result  of  her  labours.  So  with  her  crushed  to  me  I  turned 
and  set  off  along  the  beach,  and  she,  lying  thus  helpless, 
must  needs  fall  to  weeping  again  and  I,  in  my  selfish  and 
blind  folly  to  plaguing  the  sweet  soul  therewith ;  as : 

** England  is  far  away,  my  lady  Joan!  Here  be  no 
courtly  swains,  no  perfumed,  mincing  lovers,  to  sigh  and 
bow  and  languish  for  you.  Here  is  solitude,  lady.  Deso- 
lation hath  you  fast  and  is  not  like  to  let  you  go;  here 


232      Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

mayhap  shall  you  live  —  and  die!  An  ill  place  this  and, 
like  Nature,  strong  and  cruel.  An  ill  place  and  an  ill 
rogue  for  company.  You  named  me  rogue  once,  and 
rogue  forsooth  you  find  me.  England  is  far  away  —  but 
God  —  is  farther  —  " 

Thus  I  babbled,  scowling  down  on  her,  as  I  bore  her  on 
until  my  breath  came  in  great  gasps,  until  the  sweat 
poured  from  me,  until  I  sank  to  my  knees  and,  striving  to 
rise,  found  I  might  not  and  glaring  wildly  up  saw  we  were 
come  'neath  Bartlemy's  cursed  pimento  tree.  Then  she, 
loosing  herself  from  my  fainting  arms,  bent  down  to  push 
the  matted  hair  from  my  eyes,  to  support  my  failing 
strength  in  tender  arms,  and  to  lower  my  heavy  head  to 
her  knee. 

"  Foolish  child ! "  she  murmured.  "  Poor,  foolish  child ! 
England  is  very  far,  I  know,  but  this  I  know  also,  Martin ; 
God  is  all  about  us,  and  here  in  our  loneliness  within  these 
great  solitudes  doth  walk  beside  us." 

"  Yet  you  weep ! "   says  I. 

"  Aye,  I  did,  Martin." 

"  Because  —  of  the  —  loneliness  ?  " 

"  No,  Martin." 

"Your  — lost  friends?" 

"No,  Martin." 

"  Then  —  wherefore  ?  " 

*'  Oh,  trouble  not  for  thing  so  small ;  a  woman's  tears 
come  easily,  they  say." 

**  Not  yours,  Joan.     Yet  you  wept  —  " 

"Your  wound  bleeds  afresh;  lie  you  there  and  stir  not 
till  I  bring  water  to  bathe  it."  And  away  she  hastened, 
and  I,  burning  in  a  fever  of  doubt  and  questioning,  must 
needs  lie  there  and  watch  her  bring  the  turtle  shell  to  fill 
it  at  the  little  rill  that  bubbled  in  that  rocky  cleft  as  I 
have  described  before.  While  this  was  a-doing  I  stared 
up  at  the  pimento  tree  and,  bethinking  me  of  Black  Bart- 
lemy  and  the  poor  Spanish  lady  and  of  my  hateful  dream, 
I  felt  sudden  great  shame,  for  here  had  I  crushed  my  lady 
in  arms  as  cruel,  well-nigh,  as  his.     This  put  me  to  such 


Beneath  Bartlemy's  Tree       233 

remorse  that  I  might  not  lie  still  and  strove  to  rise  up, 
yet  got  no  further  than  my  knees ;  and  't  was  thus  she 
found  me.  And  now,  when  I  would  have  sued  her  for- 
giveness for  my  roughness,  she  soothed  me  with  gentle 
words  (though  what  she  spake  I  knew  not)  and  gave  me 
to  drink  and  so  fell  to  cherishing  my  hurt  until,  my 
strength  coming  back  somewhat,  I  got  to  my  feet  and  suf- 
fered her  to  bring  me  where  she  would,  speaking  no  word, 
since  in  my  fevered  brain  I  was  asking  myself  his  ques- 
tion, viz: 

"  Why  must  she  weep  ?  " 

Now  whether  the  Indian's  knife  was  poisoned  or  no  I 
cannot  say,  but  for  two  days  I  lay  direly  sick  and  scarce 
able  to  crawl,  conscious  only  of  the  soothing  tones  of  her 
voice  and  the  touch  of  her  hands.  But  upon  the  third 
day,  opening  my  eyes,  I  found  myself  greatly  better 
though  marvellous  weak.  And  as  I  stirred,  she  was  beside 
me  on  her  knees. 

"Drink  this,  Martin!"  said  she.  And  I,  obeying, 
found  it  was  excellent  broth.  And  when  I  had  drunk  all, 
I  closed  my  eyes  mighty  content  and  so  lay  a  while. 

"My  Lady  Joan,"  says  I  at  last,  "wherefore  did  you 
weep  ?  " 

"  Oh,  Martin ! "  she  sighed,  **  *t  was  because  that  morn- 
ing I  had  sought  so  long  and  found  so  little  to  give  you 
and  you  so  sick !  "    Here  was  silence  a  while. 

"  But  whence  cometh  the  broth  ?  "  quoth  I  at  last. 

"  I  caught  a  young  goat,  Martin ;  in  a  noose  of  hide  set 
among  the  rocks;  and  then  —  then  I  had  to  kill  it  —  oh, 
Martin !  " 

"  You  —  caught  and  —  killed  a  goat ! " 

"Yes,  Martin.  You  had  to  be  fed  —  but  oh,  the  poor 
thing—!" 

"  Surely,"  said  I  at  last,  "  oh,  surely,  never  had  man 
so  brave  a  comrade  as  I.  How  may  I  ever  show  you  all 
my  gratitude  ?  " 

"  By  going  to  sleep,  Martin.  Your  wound  is  well-nigh 
healed,  sleep  is  all  you  need."    And  sleep  I  did ;  though  at 


2  34      Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

that  time  and  for  many  nights  to  come  my  slumber  was 
haunted  by  a  fear  that  the  Indian  was  back  again  and 
others  with  him,  all  stealing  upon  us  to  our  torment  and 
destruction.  But  in  this  night  I  awoke  parched  with 
thirst,  and  the  night  very  hot  and  with  the  moon  making 
pale  glory  all  about  me.  So  I  got  to  my  feet,  albeit  with 
much  ado,  being  yet  very  feeble,  when  her  voice  reached 
me. 

"What  is  it,  Martin?     Are  you  thirsty?" 

"Beyond  enduring!"    says  I. 

*'  Bide  you  still ! "  she  commanded,  and  the  next  moment 
she  flitted  soft-footed  into  the  moonlight  with  one  of  our 
larger  shells  to  bring  me  water  from  the  rill  near  by ;  but 
seeing  me  on  my  feet,  looked  on  me  glad-eyed  then  shook 
reproving  head. 

"  Lie  you  down ! "  said  she,  mighty  serious.  "  Lie  you 
down ! " 

"Nay,  I'll  go  myself — "  But  she  was  past  me  and 
out  of  the  cave  or  ever  I  might  stay  her ;  but  scarce  had  I 
seated  myself  upon  my  bed  than  she  was  back  again, 
the  shell  brimming  in  her  hands ;  so  I  drank  eagerly 
enough,  but  with  my  gaze  on  the  sheen  of  white,  rounded 
arm  and  dimpled  shoulder.  Having  emptied  the  shell, 
I  stooped  to  set  it  by,  and  when  I  looked  again  she  had 
vanished  into  her  own  small  cave. 

"I  am  glad  you  are  so  greatly  better,  Martin,"  said 
she  from  the  dark. 

"  Indeed,  I  am  well  again ! "  quoth  I.  "  To-morrow  I 
make  my  bow  and  arrows.  Had  I  done  this  before,  the 
Indian  should  never  have  got  away." 

*' Think  you  he  will  return  and  with  others,  Martin?" 

"No,"  said  I  (albeit  my  mind  misgave  me).  "Yet  'tis 
best  to  be  prepared,  so  I  will  have  a  good  stout  pike  also 
in  place  of  my  broken  sword." 

"  And  strengthen  our  door,  Martin?  " 

"  Aye,  I  will  so ;  't  is  a  mighty  stout  door,  thank  God." 

"  Thank  God ! "  repeated  she,  mighty  reverent.  "  And 
now  go  to  sleep,  Martin."     So  here  was  silence  wherein  I 


Beneath  Bartlemy's  Tree       235 

could  hear  the  murmur  of  the  breakers  afar  and  the  soft 
bubbling  of  the  rill  hard  by,  and  yet  sleep  I  could  not. 

"  And  you  caught  and  killed  a  goat ! "   said  I. 

"  Nay,  Martin,  't  is  a  horror  I  would  forget." 

"And  you  did  it  that  I  might  eat?" 

"Yes,  Martin.     And  now  hush  thee." 

"  Though  indeed,"  said  I  in  a  little,  "  thus  much  you 
would  have  done  for  any  man,  to  be  sure ! " 

"  To  be  sure,  Martin  —  unless  he  were  man  like  Black 
Bartlemy.  Good  night  and  close  your  eyes.  Are  they 
shut?" 

"  Yes,"  said  I.    "  Good  night  to  thee,  comrade." 


CHAPTER   XXV 
I  Try  My  Hand  at  Pottery 

Next  morning,  having  bathed  me  in  the  pool,  I  de- 
scended thence  to  find  breakfast  a-cooking,  two  noble 
steaks  propped  before  the  fire  on  skewers  stuck  upright 
in  the  ground,  a  device  methought  very  ingenious,  and 
told  her  so ;  the  which  did  seem  to  please  her  mightily. 

"  Are  you  hungry,  Martin  ?  " 

"  'T  is  a  poor  word  for  it ! "  said  I,  sniffing  at  the 
roasting  steaks. 

"  Alas !  Our  poor  turtle  shell  is  all  perished  with  the 
fire,  Martin;  if  you  could  but  contrive  me  a  pan  with 
handles !  I  have  found  plenty  of  clay  along  the  river  bank 
yonder."  Here  she  gave  me  my  steak  on  a  piece  of  wood 
for  platter  and  I,  being  so  sharp-set,  must  needs  bum  my 
mouth  in  my  eagerness,  whereon  she  gravely  reproved  me 
as  I  had  been  a  ravenous  boy,  yet  laughed  thereafter  to 
see  me  eat  with  such  huge  appetite;  now  a  bite  of  plan- 
tain, and  now  a  slice  of  steak  cut  with  my  knife. 

"  As  to  your  pan  with  handles,"  said  I,  my  hunger  ap- 
peased somewhat,  "  I  will  set  about  it  as  soon  as  I  have 
made  my  bow  and  arrows." 

"  There  is  no  need  of  them,"  quoth  she  and,  rising,  away 
she  went  and  presently  came  back  with  a  goodly  bow  and 
quiver  full  of  arrows. 

"  Lord  love  you ! "  said  I,  leaping  up  in  my  eagerness. 
"Here's  mighty  good  weapon!"  As  indeed  it  was,  being 
longer  than  most  Indian  bows  and  of  good  power.  More- 
over, it  was  tufted  with  feathers  rare  to  fancy  and  gar- 
nished here  and  there  with  fillets  of  gold-work  very  arti- 
ficially wrought,  as  were  also  the  arrows.  Nine  of  these 
there  were  in  a  quiver  of  tanned  leather,  adorned  with 
feather-work  and  gold  beads,  so  that  I  did  not  doubt  but 


I  Try  My  Hand  at  Pottery    237 

that  their  late  owner  had  been  of  some  account  among  his 
fellows. 

"I  found  them  two  days  ago,  Martin,  but  kept  them 
until  you  should  be  well  again.  And  this  I  found  too ! " 
And  she  showed  me  a  gold  collar  of  twisted  wire,  delicately 
wrought.  All  of  the  which  put  me  in  high  good  humour, 
and  I  was  minded  to  set  off  there  and  then  to  try  a  shot  at 
something,  but  she  prevailed  upon  me  to  finish  my  meal 
first;  the  which  I  did,  though  hastily. 

"  There  was  a  knife  also,"  said  I  suddenly. 

*'  Yes,  Martin,  but  I  threw  it  into  the  lagoon." 

"  Oh,  folly ! »   said  I. 

"  Nay,  we  have  two  knives  already,  and  this  as  I  do 
think  was  poisoned." 

"  No  matter ;  't  was  a  goodly  knife  —  why  must  you 
throw  it  away.?" 

"  Because  I  was  so  minded ! "  says  she,  mighty  serene, 
and  regarding  me  with  her  calm,  level  gaze.  "  Never 
scowl,  Martin,  though  indeed  't  was  goodly  knife  with 
handle  all  gold-work."  At  this  I  scowled  the  more,  and 
she  must  needs  laugh,  calling  me  Black  Bartlemy,  whereon 
I  turned  my  back  on  her,  and  she  fell  a-singing  to  herself. 

"  Think  you  these  arrows  are  poisoned  also  ?  "  asked 
she  as  I  rose. 

At  this,  I  emptied  them  from  the  quiver  and,  through 
their  iron  barbs  looked  innocent  enough,  I  held  each  in  the 
fire  until  I  judged  I  had  rendered  them  harmless,  if  pois- 
oned they  were  indeed. 

And  now,  though  sore  tempted  to  try  my  skill  with  this 
good  bow,  I  followed  her  down  to  the  river  bank  to  try 
my  hand  at  pottery,  though  taking  good  care  to  carry 
my  bow  with  me. 

Being  come  to  the  river,  I  laid  aside  bow  and  quiver  and, 
cutting  divers  lumps  of  clay  (the  which  seemed  very 
proper  to  my  purpose),  I  fell  to  kneading  these  lumps 
until  I  had  wrought  them  to  a  plastic  consistency,  and  so 
(keeping  my  hands  continually  moistened)  I  began  to 
mould  and  shape  a  pot  to  her  directions.     And  now,  since 


238     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

I  was  about  it,  I  determined  to  have  as  many  as  need  be 
and  of  different  sizes.  My  first  was  a  great  ill-looking 
thing  and  my  second  little  better,  but  as  I  progressed  I 
grew  more  skilful,  so  that  after  some  while  I  had  six  pots 
of  varying  size  and  shape  and  each  with  handles;  and, 
though  ill  things  to  look  at,  my  lady  found  them  aU  she 
desired. 

"Surely  they  are  very  clumsy.?"  says  I,  viewing  them 
doubtfully. 

"  But  very  strong,  Martin ! " 

"  And  very  ponderous  !  " 

"  But  they  have  handles,  Martin !  " 

"  And  very  ill-shaped !  " 

"  'T  is  no  matter,  so  long  as  they  will  hold  water, 
Martin." 

Hereupon,  heartened  by  her  encouragement,  I  tried  my 
hand  at  a  set  of  dishes,  platters  and  the  like,  for  as  I  grew 
more  expert  at  the  art,  my  interest  increased.  So  I 
laboured  all  the  morning,  working  'neath  a  tree  upon  the 
river  bank,  with  my  pots  set  out  to  dry  in  the  full  glare 
of  the  sun,  all  of  a  row,  and  I,  in  my  heart,  not  a  little 
proud  of  them.  But  turning  to  look  at  them  after  some 
while  I  saw  divers  of  them  beginning  to  crack  and  gape 
here  and  there  with  the  sun's  heat,  whereon  my  vain  pride 
gave  place  to  sudden  petulant  anger  and,  leaping  up,  I 
demolished  them,  one  and  all,  with  a  couple  of  savage 
kicks. 

"  Oh,  Martin !  "  cried  my  lady,  desponding.  "  Is  all 
your  labour  wasted .'^    Are  you  done.''  " 

"  No ! "  said  I,  clenching  my  teeth,  "  I  begin  now !  " 
And  down  I  sat  to  my  clay-kneading  again.  But  this  time 
I  worked  it  more  thoroughly,  and  so  began  to  mould  my 
pots  and  pipkins  over  again,  and  she  aiding  me  as  well  as 
she  might.  This  time  the  thing  came  easier,  at  the  which 
my  companion  did  admire  and  was  very  full  of  encourage- 
ment as  the  vessels  took  shape  under  my  hands. 

"  Come,  Martin,"   said  she  at  last,   "  't  is  dinner  time !  '* 

«  No  matter ! "  quoth  I. 


I  Try  My  Hand  at  Pottery    239 

"Will  you  not  eat?" 

*'  No!  "  said  I,  mighty  determined.  "  Here  sit  I  nor  will 
I  go  eat  till  I  can  contrive  you  a  pot  worthy  the  name." 
And  I  bent  to  my  work  again ;  but  finally  missing  her  from 
beside  me,  turned  to  see  her  seated  upon  the  grassy  bank 
and  with  two  roasted  steaks  set  out  upon  two  great  green 
leaves,  a  delectable  sight. 

"Pray  lend  me  your  knife,  Martin." 

*'  What,  have  you  brought  dinner  hither?  "  asked  I. 

"  To  be  sure,  Martin." 

"  Why,  then  —  ! "  said  I  and  laving  the  clay  from  my 
hands  came  beside  her  and,  using  our  knife  alternately,  a 
very  pleasant  meal  we  made  of  it. 

All  that  afternoon  I  wrought  at  our  pots  until  I  had 
made  a  dozen  or  so  of  all  sizes,  and  each  and  every  fur- 
nished with  one  or  more  handles ;  and  though  I  scowled  at 
a  crack  here  and  there,  they  looked  none  the  less  service- 
able on  the  whole,  and  were  hardening  apace. 

"  And  now,  comrade,"  quoth  I,  rising,  "  now  we  will 
fire  them."  So  having  collected  wood  sufficient,  I  reached 
for  my  biggest  pot  (the  which  being  made  first  was  the 
hardest  set)  and  taking  it  up  with  infinite  care  off  tum- 
bled the  handles.  At  this  I  was  minded  to  dash  the  thing 
to  pieces,  but  her  touch  restrained  me  and  I  set  it  down, 
staring  at  it  mighty  discomfited  and  downcast;  whereat 
she  laughed  right  merrily. 

"Oh,  Martin,"  said  she,  "never  gloom  so,  'tis  an  ex- 
cellent pot  even  without  handles ;  indeed  I  do  prefer  it  so ! " 

"  No,"  said  I,  "  handles  you  wanted,  and  handles  you 
shall  have ! "  So,  taking  a  stick  that  lay  handy,  I 
sharpened  it  to  a  point  and  therewith  bored  me  two  holes 
beneath  the  lip  of  ^e  pot  and  other  two  opposite.  "  This 
pot  shall  have  iron  handles,"  said  I,  "  unless  it  perish  in 
the  fire."  Then,  setting  the  pots  as  close  as  might  be,  I 
covered  them  with  brushwood  and  thereupon  (and  with 
infinite  caution)  builded  a  fire  and  presently  had  it 
a-going.  Now  I  would  have  stayed  to  tend  the  fire,  but 
my  companion  showed  me  the  sun  already  low,  vowed  I 


240     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

had  done  enough,  that  I  was  tired,  &c.  So,  having  set 
upon  the  fire  wood  enough  to  burn  a  good  time,  I  turned 
away  and  found  myself  weary  even  as  she  said. 

"  Goat's  flesh,"  said  I,  as  we  sat  side  by  side  after 
supper,  "goat's  flesh  is  an  excellent,  wholesome  diet  and, 
as  you  cook  it,  delicious." 

"  'Tis  kind  of  you  to  say  so,  Martin,  but — '* 

*'  We  have  had  it,"  continued  I,  "  we  have  had  it  boiled 
and  baked  —  " 

"And  roast  and  stewed,  and  broiled  across  your  iron 
bolts,  Martin,  and  yet  'tis  always  goat's  flesh  and  I  do 
yearn  for  a  change  and  so  do  you." 

"  Lord ! "  said  I,  "  you  do  read  my  very  thoughts 
sometimes  —  " 

*'  Is  that  so  wonderful,  Martin  ?  " 

*'Why,  a  man's  thoughts  are  but  thoughts,"  said  I, 
watching  where  she  braided  a  long  tress  of  her  hair. 

*'  Some  men's  thoughts  are  so  easily  read ! " 

"Are  mine.?" 

"  Sometimes,  Martin ! "  Now  at  this  I  blenched  and 
well  I  might,  and  she  smiled  down  at  the  long  tress  of  hair 
she  was  braiding  and  then  glanced  at  me  mighty  demure; 
quoth  she:  "But  only  sometimes,  Martin.  Now,  for  in- 
stance, you  are  wondering  why  of  late  I  have  taken  to 
wearing  my  hair  twisted  round  my  head  and  pinned  with 
these  two  small  pieces  of  wood  in  fashion  so  unsightly  —  " 

**  Aye,  truly,"  said  I,  wondering,  "  indeed,  and  so  I 
was !     Though  I  do  not  think  it  unsightly ! " 

*'  I  wear  it  so,  Martin,  first  because  my  hairpins  are  yet 
to  make,  and  second  because  I  would  not  have  you  find  my 
hairs  in  your  baked  goat,  boiled  goat,  roast,  fried  or 
stewed  goat.  And  speaking  of  goat  brings  us  back  where 
we  began,  and  we  began  yearning  for  a  change  of  food." 

"As  to  that,"  said  I,  taking  her  half-finished  hairpin 
from  my  pocket  and  drawing  my  knife,  *'the  lagoon  is 
full  of  fish  had  I  but  a  hook  —  " 

"  Or  a  net,  Martin." 

"How  should  we  contrive  our  net.''" 


I  Try  My  Hand  at  Pottery    241 

"  In  the  woods  all  about  us  do  grow  vines  very  strong 
and  pliable;  would  these  serve,  think  you?" 

"  Ha  —  an  excellent  thought !  "  said  I.  "  To-morrow 
we  will  attempt  it.  As  to  fishhooks,  I  might  contrive  them 
out  of  my  nails  hammered  small,  though  I  fear  they  'd  be 
but  clumsy.     Had  I  but  a  good  stout  pin  —  " 

"  I  have  two,  Martin,  here  in  my  shoe  buckles." 

"  Show  me ! "  Stooping,  she  slipped  oif  one  of  her  shoes 
and  gave  it  to  me;  and  turning  it  over  in  my  hand  I  saw 
the  poor  little  thing  all  cut  and  torn  and  in  woeful  estate. 

"  I  must  contrive  you  other  shoes  and  soon ! "  said  I. 

"  Can  you  make  shoes,  Martin?  " 

"  I  '11  tell  you  this  to-morrow." 

"  Oh,  Martin,  'twould  be  wonderful  if  you  could,  and  a 
great  comfort  to  me." 

"  Why,  then,  you  shall  have  them,  though  unlovely 
things  they  '11  be,  I  fear." 

"  No  matter,  so  long  as  they  keep  out  sharp  stones 
and  briars,  Martin." 

"  Your  foot  is  wonderfully  small ! "  said  I,  studying 
her  shoe. 

*'  Is  it,  Martin  ?  Why,  't  is  a  very  ordinary  foot,  I 
think.    And  the  pins  are  behind  the  buckles." 

Sure  enough,  I  found  these  silver  buckles  furnished  each 
with  a  good  stout  pin  well-suited  to  my  design ;  so,  break- 
ing them  from  the  buckles,  I  had  soon  bent  them  into 
hooks  and  (with  the  back  of  my  knife  and  a  stone)  I 
shaped  each  with  a  small  ring  a-top  whereby  I  might  se- 
cure them  to  my  line;  and  though  they  had  no  barbs,  I 
thought  they  might  catch  any  fish  were  I  quick  enough. 

"  How  shall  you  do  for  a  line,  Martin  ?  " 

**  I  shall  take  the  gut  of  one  of  our  goats  and  worsted 
unravelled  from  my  stocking." 

"  Will  worsted  be  strong  enough?  " 

"  I  shall  make  it  fourfold." 

"Nay,  I  will  plait  it  into  a  line  for  you!" 

"  Good !  "  quoth  I.  And  whipping  off  one  of  my  stock- 
ings, I  unravelled  therefrom  sufficient  of  the  worsted. 


242      Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

"  But  what  shall  you  do  for  stockings  ?  "  said  she,  while 
this  was  a-doing. 

"I  will  make  me  leggings  of  goat's  skin." 

So  she  took  the  worsted  and  now,  sitting  in  a  patch  of 
radiant  moonlight,  fell  to  work,  she  weaving  our  fishline 
with  fingers  very  quick  and  dexterous  and  I  carving  away 
at  the  pin  for  her  hair. 

"How  old  are  you,  Martin.'"'   asked  she  suddenly. 

**  Twenty-seven." 

**And  I  shall  be  twenty-six  to-morrow." 

"I  judged  you  older." 

"Do  I  look  it,  Martin.?" 

"Yes  — no,  no!" 

"Meaning  what,  Martin.?" 

"You  do  seem  older,  being  no  silly  maid  but  of  a  con- 
stant mind  and  one  to  endure  hardship.  Also  you  are 
very  brave  in  peril,  very  courageous  and  high-hearted. 
Moreover,  you  are  wise." 

"Do  you  think  me  all  this.?"  said  she  softly.  "And 
wherefore  ?  " 

**  I  have  never  heard  you  complain  yet  —  save  of  me  — 
and  I  have  never  seen  you  afraid.  Moreover,  you  caught 
a  goat  and  killed  it ! " 

*'  You  are  like  to  make  me  vain  of  my  so  many  virtues, 
Martin ! "  laughed  she ;  yet  her  laugh  was  very  soft  and 
her  eyes  kind,  when  she  looked  at  me. 

"  This  hairpin  shall  be  my  birthday  gift  to  you." 

"  And  surely  none  like  to  it  in  the  whole  world,  Martin  ! " 

After  this  we  worked  a  great  while,  speaking  no  word ; 
but  presently  she  showed  me  my  fishline  very  featly 
plaited  and  a  good  five  feet  long,  the  which  did  please  me 
mightily ;  and  so  I  told  her. 

"  Heigho ! "  said  she,  leaning  back  against  the  rock. 
**  Our  days  grow  ever  more  busy !  " 

"  And  will  do ! "  quoth  I.  *'  Here  is  strange,  rude  life 
for  you,  days  of  hardship  and  labour  unceasing.  Your 
hands  shall  grow  all  hard  and  rough  and  yourself  sick 
with  longing  to  be  hence  —  " 


I  Try  My  Hand  at  Pottery    243 

**  Alas,  poor  me ! "   she  sighed. 

"  Why,  't  will  be  no  wonder  if  you  grieve  for  England 
and  ease,"   said  I ;  "  't  wiU  be  but  natural." 

"  Oh,  very,  Martin !  " 

"For  here  are  you,"  I  went  on,  beginning  to  scowl  up 
at  the  waning  moon,  "  here  are  you  bred  up  to  soft  and 
silken  comfort,  very  dainty  and  delicate,  and  belike  with 
lovers  a-plenty,  courtly  gallants  full  of  fine  phrases  and 
eager  for  your  service." 

"Well,  Martin?" 

*'  Instead  of  the  which  you  have  this  island ! " 

*'  An  earthly  paradise ! " 

"And  myself!" 

"  A  foolish  being  and  gloomy ! "  said  she.  "  One  that 
loveth  to  be  woeful  and,  having  nought  to  grieve  him  for 
the  moment,  must  needs  seek  somewhat!  So  will  I  to 
bed  ere  he  find  it!" 

"  Look  now,"  quoth  I,  as  she  rose,  "  in  losing  the  world 
you  do  lose  everything  —  " 

"And  you  also,  Martin." 

"Nay,"  said  I,  "in  losing  the  world  of  yesterday  I 
may  find  more  than  ever  I  possessed ! " 

"  Meaning  you  are  content,  Martin  ?  " 

"  Is  any  one  ever  content  in  this  world  ?  " 

"Well  —  I  —  might  be!"  said  she  slowly.  "But  you 
—  I  do  fear  you  will  never  know  true  content;  it  is  not 
in  you,  I  think." 

And  off  she  went  to  bed,  leaving  me  very  full  of  thought. 
Howbeit  the  moon  being  very  bright  (though  on  the  wane) 
I  stayed  there  until  I  had  finished  her  hairpin,  of  the  which 
I  give  here  a  cut,  viz : 


CHAPTER   XXVI 
Tells  How  I  Found  a  Seceet  Cave 

Next  morning  I  was  up  mighty  early  and  away  to  the 
little  valley,  first  to  view  my  pots  and  then  to  pick  some 
flowers  for  her  birthday,  remembering  her  great  love  for 
such  toys.  Coming  to  the  ashes  of  the  fire,  I  must  needs 
fall  a-cursing  most  vilely,  like  the  ill  fellow  I  was,  and  to 
swearing  many  great  and  vain  oaths  (and  it  her  birth- 
day!). For  here  were  my  pots  (what  the  fire  had  left  of 
them)  all  swollen  and  bulged  with  the  heat,  warped  and 
misshapen  beyond  imagining. 

So  I  stood  plucking  my  beard  and  cursing  them  sever- 
ally and  altogether  and  fetched  the  nearest  a  kick  that 
nigh  broke  my  toe  and  set  the  pot  leaping  and  bounding 
a  couple  of  yards,  but  all  unbroken.  Going  to  it,  I  took 
it  up  and  found  it  not  so  much  as  scratched  and  hard  as 
any  stone.  This  comforted  me  somewhat  and  made  me 
to  regret  my  ill  language,  more  especially  having  regard 
to  this  day,  being  as  it  were  a  day  apart.  And  now  as  I 
went  on,  crossing  the  stream  at  a  place  where  were  step- 
ping-stones, set  there  by  other  hands  than  mine,  as  I  went, 
I  say,  I  must  needs  think  what  a  surly,  ill-mannered  fel- 
low I  was,  contrasting  the  gross  man  I  was  become  with 
the  gentle,  sweet-natured  lad  I  had  been.  "Well,  but" 
(thought  I,  excusing  myself)  "  the  plantations  and  a 
rowing-bench  be  a  school  where  a  man  is  apt  to  leam 
nought  but  evil  and  brutality ;  my  wrongs  have  made  me 
what  I  am.  But  again"  (blaming  myself)  "wrong  and 
hardship,  cruelty  and  suffering  do  not  debase  all  men,  as 
witness  the  brave  Frenchman  that  was  whipped  to  death 
beside  me  in  the  Esmeralda  galleass.  Wrong  and  suffer- 
ing either  lift  a  man  to  greatness  or  debase  him  to  the 
very  brute!  She  had  said  as  much  to  me  once.  And  she 
was  right"   (thought  I)    "for  the  Frenchman  had  died 


How  I  Found  a  Secret  Cave    245 

the  noble  gentleman  he  was  born,  whiles  I,  as  well-bom 
as  he  and  suffering  no  greater  wrong  than  he,  according 
to  his  own  account,  I  had  sullied  myself  with  all  the  vile- 
ness  and  filth  of  slavedom,  had  fought  and  rioted  with  the 
worst  of  them."  And  now,  remembering  the  shame  of  it 
all,  I  sat  me  down  in  the  shade  of  a  tree  and  fell  to  gloomy 
and  sad  reflection,  grieving  sorely  over  things  long  past 
and  forgotten  until  now,  and  very  full  of  remorse  and 
scorn  of  myself. 

"Howbeit"  (thought  I)  "if  rogue  and  brute  I  am 
(which  is  beyond  all  doubt)  I  will  keep  such  for  my  own 
kind  and  she  shall  know  nought  of  it ! "  And  here,  getting 
upon  my  knees,  I  took  a  great  and  solemn  oath  to  this 
effect,  viz :  "  Never  by  look,  or  word,  or  gesture  to  give 
her  cause  for  shame  or  fear  so  long  as  we  should  abide 
together  in  this  solitude,  so  aid  me  God!" 

This  done,  I  arose  from  my  knees  and  betook  me  to 
culling  flowers,  great  silver  lilies  and  others  of  divers 
hues,  being  minded  to  lay  them  on  the  threshold  of  her 
door  to  greet  her  when  she  should  arise.  With  these  in 
my  arms  I  recrossed  the  brook  and,  stepping  out  from 
a  thicket,  came  full  upon  her  ere  she  was  aware;  and 
seeing  her  suddenly  I  stood  like  any  fool,  my  poor 
flowers  hidden  behind  me.  She  had  taken  up  one  of  my 
misshapen  pots  and  was  patting  it  softly  as  she  viewed 
it,  and  a  little  smile  on  her  red  lips.  All  at  once  she 
turned  and,  spying  me,  came  towards  me,  all  smiling, 
fresh  and  radiant  as  the  morning. 

"  Oh,  Martin,"  says  she,  turning  the  pot  this  way  and 
that,  "  oh,  Martin,  't  is  wonderful  —  " 
•  "  'T  is  an  abomination ! "   quoth  I. 

"And  'twill  hold  water!" 

«'Tis  like  an  ill  dream!" 

"  And  so  strong,  Martin." 

"  True,  't  is  the  only  merit  the  things  possess ;  they  are 
like  stone  —  watch  now !  "  And  here,  to  prove  my  words, 
I  let  one  drop,  though  indeed  I  chose  a  soft  place  for  it. 

**  And  they  will  be  so  easy  to  carry  with  these  handles, 


246      Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

and  —  why,  what  have  you  there?"  Saying  which  she 
set  down  the  pot,  gently  as  it  had  been  an  eggshell,  and 
came  to  me ;  whereupon  I  showed  her  my  posy,  and  I  more 
fool-like  than  ever. 

"  I  chanced  to  —  see  them  growing,"  said  I,  "  and 
thought  —  your  birthday  —  they  might  pleasure  you  a 
little,  mayhap  —  " 

"Please  me?"  said  she,  taking  them.  "Please  me! 
Oh,  the  dear,  beautiful  things,  I  love  them ! "  And  she 
buried  her  face  among  them.  "  'T  was  kind  of  you  to 
bring  them  for  me,  Martin ! "  said  she,  her  face  hidden  in 
the  flowers.  "  Indeed,  you  are  very  good  to  me !  After 
all,  you  are  that  same  dear  Martin  I  knew  long  ago,  that 
boy  who  used  to  brandish  his  rusty  sword  and  vow  he  'd 
suffer  no  evil  to  come  near  me  and  yearned  for  ogres  and 
dragons  to  fight  and  slay  on  my  behalf.  And  one  day 
you  caught  a  boy  pulling  my  hair." 

"  It  was  very  long  hair  even  then ! " 

"  And  he  made  your  lip  bleed,  Martin." 

"  And  I  hit  him  on  the  nose !  " 

**And  he  ran  away,  Martin." 

"And  you  bathed  my  lip  in  the  pool  and  afterwards 
you  —  you  —  " 

"Yes,  I  did,  Martin.  Though  'tis  a  long  time  to  re- 
member." 

"I  — shall  never  forget!"    said  I.     "Shall  you?" 

Here  she  buried  her  face  in  her  flowers  again. 

"  As  to  the  pots,  there  are  four  quite  unbroken  ;  will  you 
help  me  bear  them  to  our  refuge?    Breakfast  will  be  ready." 

"Breakfast  is  a  sweet  word!"  quoth  I.  "And  as  to 
these  things,  if  you  will  have  them,  well  and  good ! " 

And  thus,  she  with  her  flowers  and  I  with  the  gallipots, 
we  came  to  our  habitation. 

"What  do  we  work  at  to-day?"  she  questioned,  as 
we  rose  from  our  morning  meal. 

*'  To-day  I  make  you  a  pair  of  shoes." 

"How  may  I  aid  you,  Martin?" 

"  In  a  thousand  ways,"    and  I  plucked  a  great  fan- 


How  I  Found  a  Secret  Cave    247 

shaped  leaf  that  grew  adjacent.  "First,  sit  you  down! 
And  now  give  me  your  foot ! "  So,  kneeling  before  her,  I 
traced  out  the  shape  of  her  foot  upon  the  leaf  and  got 
no  further  for  a  while,  so  that  presently  she  went  about 
her  household  duties,  leaving  me  staring  at  my  leaf  and 
scratching  my  head,  puzzling  out  how  I  must  cut  and 
shape  my  goatskin.  Well-nigh  all  that  morning  I  sat 
scheming  and  studying  how  best  I  might  achieve  my  pur- 
pose and  the  end  of  it  was  this: 


This  shape  I  cut  from  the  leaf  and  with  it  went  to  find 
my  lady;  then,  she  sitting  upon  the  stool,  I  took  off  one 
of  her  shoes  (and  she  all  laughing  wonderment)  and,  fit- 
ting this  pattern  to  her  foot,  found  it  well  enough  for 
shape  though  something  too  large.  I  now  took  the  goat- 
skin and  laying  it  on  the  table  cut  therefrom  a  piece  to 
my  pattern ;  then  with  one  of  my  nails  grovmd  to  a  sharp 
point  like  a  cobbler's  awl,  I  pierced  it  with  holes  and 
sewed  it  together  with  gut  in  this  fashion: 


248 


Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 


This  is  quickly  over  in  the  telling  but  it  was  long 
a-doing  so  that  having  wrought  steadily  all  through  the 
day,  night  was  at  hand  ere  her  shoes  were  completed  with 
three  thicknesses  of  hide  for  soles  and  all  sewed  mighty 
secure. 

Now  though  they  were  not  things  of  beauty  (as  may 
plainly  be  seen  from  my  drawing  herewith)  yet,  once  I 
had  laced  them  snug  upon  her  feet,  they  (shaping  and 
moulding  themselves  to  her  slender  ankles  and  dainty 
feet)  were  none  so  ill-looking,  after  all.  And  now  she, 
walking  to  and  fro  in  them,  must  needs  admire  at  their 
construction  and  the  comfort  of  them  and  very  lavish 
in  her  praise  of  them  and  me;  the  which  did  pleasure  me 
mightily,  though  I  took  pains  to  hide  it. 

"Why,  Martin,"  said  she,  thrusting  out  a  foot  and 
wagging  it  to  and  fro  (very  taking  to  behold),  "I  vow 
our  cobbler  surpasseth  our  carpenter!  Dian's  buskins 
were  no  better,  nay,  not  so  good,  judging  by  pictures  I 
have  seen." 

"They  will  at  least  keep  out  any  thorns,"  said  I, 
*'  though  as  to  looks  — " 

"They  look  what  they  are,  Martin,  the  shoes  of  a 
huntress.  You  shall  find  her  very  swift  and  sure-footed 
when  her  bruises  are  quite  gone." 

"I'm  glad  they  please  you,"  said  I,  yet  upon  my 
knees  and  stooping  to  view  them  'neath  her  petticoat, 
"  though  now  I  see  I  might  better  them  by  trimming  and 
shaping  them  here  and  there." 

"  No,  no,  Martin,  leave  well  alone." 

But  now  and  all  at  once  I  started  to  feel  a  great  splash 
of  rain  upon  my  cheek  and,  glancing  up,  saw  the  sky  all 
overcast,  while  seaward  the  whole  horizon  was  very  black 
and  ominous  with  great  masses  of  writhing  vapour  and 
these  threatening  clouds  lit  ever  and  anon  by  a  reddish  glow 
and  pierced  by  vivid  lightning  flashes.  All  of  which  took 
us  mightily  by  surprise,  we  having  been  too  intent  upon 
these  new  buskins  to  heed  aught  else. 

"  Yonder  is  storm  and  tempest,"   said  I ;   "  see  how  it 


How  I  Found  a  Secret  Cave    249 

sweeps  towards  us ! "  And  I  pointed  where,  far  across 
the  dark  sea,  a  line  of  foam  marked  the  oncoming  fury  of 
the  wind.  And  presently  we  heard  it,  a  faint  hum,  grow- 
ing ever  louder  and  fiercer. 

"Oh,  Martin,  see  yonder!"  and  she  pointed  to  the 
onrushing  of  the  foaming  waters.  "  'T  is  very  awful  but 
very  grand ! " 

"  Let  us  go  in ! "  said  I,  catching  up  my  tools.  "  Come, 
soon  will  be  roaring  havoc  all  about  us ! " 

"  Nay,  let  us  stay  awhile  and  watch  —  " 

As  she  spoke  it  seemed  as  the  sea  gathered  itself  into 
one  great  and  mighty  wave,  a  huge  wall  of  foaming  waters 
that  rolled  onward,  hissing  and  roaring  as  it  would 
'whelm  the  very  island  beneath  it.  On  it  rushed,  swelling 
ever  higher,  and  so  burst  in  thunder  upon  the  barrier 
reef,  filling  the  air  with  whirling  foam.  And  then  —  then 
came  the  wind  —  a  screaming,  howling,  vicious  titan  that 
hurled  us  flat  and  pinned  me  breathless  and  scarce  able 
to  move;  howbeit  I  crawled  where  she  crouched  somewhat 
sheltered  by  a  rock  and,  clasping  her  within  my  arm,  lay 
there  nor  dared  to  stir  until  the  mad  fury  of  the  wind 
abated  somewhat.  Then  side  by  side  on  hands  and  knees 
we  gained  our  rocky  fastness  and,  closing  the  door,  which 
was  screened  from  the  direct  force  of  the  tempest,  I  barred 
it  with  the  beam  I  had  made  for  the  purpose  and  so  stood 
staring  at  my  companion  and  she  on  me,  while  all  the 
world  about  us  roared  and  clamoured  loud  and  louder 
until  it  seemed  here  was  to  be  an  end  of  all  things.  And 
now  suddenly  came  darkness;  and  In  this  darkness  her 
hand  found  mine  and  nestled  there.  Thus  we  remained  a 
great  while,  hearkening  to  the  awful  booming  of  this  rush- 
ing, mighty  wind,  a  sound  indescribable  in  itself 'yet  one  to 
shake  the  very  soul.  In  a  while,  the  tumult  subsiding  a 
little,  we  might  distinguish  other  sounds  as :  the  rolling 
of  thunder,  the  rending  crash  of  falling  trees  hard  by 
and  the  roar  of  mighty  waters.  And  presently  her  voice 
came  to  me: 

"  God  pity  all  poor  mariners,  Martin !  " 


250     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

"  Amen ! "  said  I  and  needs  must  think  of  Adam  and 
Godby  and  wonder  where  they  might  be. 

"  'T  is  very  dark,  shall  we  not  have  a  light  ?  "  she  ques- 
tioned. 

"  If  I  can  find  our  lamp,"  says  I,  groping  about  for  it. 

"  Here  is  a  candle !  " 

*'  A  candle,"  said  I  — "  and  where  should  we  find  a 
candle.^  " 

"  We  have  three,  Martin ;  I  made  them  with  tallow  from 
our  goat,  though  they  are  poor  things,  I  fear." 

Taking  out  my  tinder-box  I  very  soon  had  these  can- 
dles burning,  and  though  they  smoked  somewhat,  a  very 
excellent  light  we  thought  them.  "  And  now  for  supper !  " 
said  she,  beginning  to  bustle  about.  "  Our  meat  is  in  the 
larder,  Martin."  Now  this  larder  was  our  third  and 
smallest  cave  and  going  therein  I  was  immediately  struck 
by  the  coldness  of  it;  moreover  the  flame  of  the  candle  I 
bore  flickered  as  in  a  draught  of  air,  insomuch  that,  for- 
getting the  meat,  I  began  searching  high  and  low,  looking 
for  some  crack  or  crevice  whence  this  draught  issued, 
yet  found  none.  This  set  me  to  wondering;  for  here  was 
the  cave  some  ten  feet  by  twelve  or  more  and  set  deep 
within  the  living  rock,  the  walls  smoothed  off,  here  and 
there,  as  by  hand,  but  with  never  a  crack  or  fissure  in 
roof  or  walls  so  far  as  I  might  discover.  Yet  was  I  con- 
scious of  this  cold  breath  of  air  so  that  my  puzzlement 
grew  the  greater. 

Presently  as  I  stood  thus  staring  about,  to  me  came  my 
lady. 

"  Good  lack,  Martin,"  said  she,  "  if  we  sup  on  goat  to- 
night we  must  eat  it  raw,  for  we  have  no  fire ! " 

"  Fire !  "  said  I.  "  Hum !  Smoke  would  do  it ;  't  is  an 
excellent  thought." 

"Do  what,  Martin.?" 

"  Look  at  the  candle  flame  and  hark !  " 

And  now,  the  booming  of  the  wind  dying  down  some- 
what, we  heard  a  strange  and  dismal  wailing  and  there- 
with a  sound  of  water  afar. 


How  I  Found  a  Secret  Cave    251 

"  Oh,  Martin ! "  she  whispered,  clasping  her  hands  and 
coming  nearer  to  me,  "  what  is  it  ?  " 

"  Nought  to  fear,  comrade.  But  somewhere  in  this 
larder  of  ours  is  an  opening  or  fissure;  the  question  is  — 
where?     And  this  I  go  to  find  out." 

"Aye,  but  how?"  she  questioned,  coming  nearer  yet, 
for  now  the  wailing  had  sunk  to  a  groan,  and  this  gave 
place  to  a  bubbling  gasp  mighty  unpleasant  to  hear. 

"With  smoke,"  said  I,  setting  the  candle  in  a  niche 
of  rock;   "I  will  light  a  fire  here." 

"  But  we  have  no  fuel,  Martin." 

"  There  is  plenty  in  my  bed." 

"But  how  will  you  sleep  and  no  bed?" 

"  Well  enough,  as  I  have  done  many  a  time  and  oft ! " 

"  But,  oh,  Martin ;  't  will  make  such  dire  mess  and  this 
our  larder ! " 

"No  matter;  I'll  clean  it  up.  Howbeit  I  must  learn 
whence  cometh  this  cold-breathing  air.  Besides,  the  fire 
shall  cook  our  supper  and  moreover  —  " 

But  here  I  checked  speaking  all  at  once  for,  above  the 
dismal  groans  and  wailing,  I  had  heard  a  sudden  fierce 
whispering  : 

"  Oh,  Martin,"  sighed  my  companion.  "  We  are  not 
alone;  somewhere  there  are  people  whispering!  Did  you 
hear,  Martin,  oh,  did  you  hear?  "  And,  I  felt  her  all  of  a 
tremble  where  she  leaned  against  me. 

"  'T  Is  gone  now !  "    said  I,  speaking  under  my  breath. 

*'But  'twas  there,  Martin  —  a  hateful  whispering." 

"  Aye,  I  heard  it,"  said  I,  fierce  and  loud ;  "  and  I  '11 
find  out  who  or  what  —  " 

"  Who  or  what  —  !  "  hissed  a  soft  voice.  Hereupon  I 
sheathed  the  knife  I  had  drawn  and  laughed,  and  imme- 
diately there  came  another  laugh,  though  this  one  very 
soft. 

"  Ahoy ! "  I  shouted,  and  presently  back  came  the 
answer  "  Ahoy ! "  and  then  again,  though  much  fainter, 
"Ahoy!"  "'Tis  nought  but  an  echo,"  I  laughed  (yet 
mighty  relieved  all  the  same). 


2^2      Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

"  Thank  God ! "  said  she  faintly,  and  would  have  fallen 
but  for  my  arm. 

"  Why,  comrade,  how  now !  "  said  I ;  and  for  a  moment 
her  soft  cheek  rested  against  my  leathern  jerkin. 

*'  Oh,  Martin,"  she  sighed,  "  I  do  fear  me  I  'm  a  mon- 
strous craven  —  sometimes!     Forgive  me!" 

"Forgive  you?"  and,  looking  down  on  her  bowed  head, 
feeling  her  thus  all  a-tremble  against  me,  I  fell  a-stammer- 
ing.  "  Forgive  you,  nay  —  where  —  here  was  an  unchancy 
thing  —  'tis  small  wonder  —  no  wonder  you  should  grow 
affrighted  and  tremble  a  little — " 

"You  are  trembling  also,"  said  she,  her  voice  muffled 
against  me. 

"Ami?" 

**Yes,  Martin.     Were  you  afraid  likewise?" 

"  No  —  yes ! "  said  I  and,  feeling  her  stir  in  my  hold, 
I  loosed  her. 

And  now,  bringing  fern  and  bracken  from  my  bed,  I 
kindled  a  fire  and,  damping  this  a  little,  made  a  smoke  the 
which,  rising  to  a  certain  height,  blew  back  upon  us 
but  always  from  the  one  direction ;  and  peering  up  thither 
I  judged  here  must  be  a  space  'twixt  the  roof  and  the 
face  of  the  rock,  though  marvellous  well-hid  from  all 
observation.  Hereupon,  the  place  being  full  of  smoke,  I 
must  needs  stamp  out  the  fire  lest  we  stifle ;  yet  I  had  dis- 
covered what  I  sought.  So  whiles  my  companion  busied 
herself  about  supper,  I  dragged  our  table  from  the  outer 
cave  and,  sitting  in  a  certain  corner,  mounted  thereon, 
reached  up  and  grasped  a  ledge  of  rock  by  which  I  drew 
myself  up  and  found  I  was  in  a  narrow  opening  or  tunnel 
and  so  low  that  I  must  creep  on  hands  and  knees. 

*'  Will  you  have  a  candle,  Martin  ?  "  And  there  was  my 
lady  standing  below  me  on  the  table,  all  anxious-eyed. 
So  I  took  the  candle  and,  creeping  through  this  narrow 
passage,  suddenly  found  myself  in  another  cavern  very 
spacious  and  lofty;  and  now,  standing  in  this  place,  I 
stared  about  me  very  full  of  wonder,  as  well  I  might  be, 
for  I  saw  this :  Before  me  a  narrow  door,  very  stout  and 


How  I  Found  a  Secret  Cave   253 

pierced  with  a  loophole,  and  beyond  this  a  rocky  passage 
that  led  steeply  down;  on  my  right  hand,  in  a  corner,  a 
"rough  bed  with  a  herd  of  goatskins  and  sheets  that 
looked  like  sailcloth;  on  my  left  a  table  and  armchair 
rough-builded  like  the  bed,  and  above  these,  a  row  of 
shelves  against  the  rocky  wall  whereon  stood  three  pipkins, 
an  iron,  three-legged  cooking-pot,  a  candlestick  and  an 
inkhom  with  pen  in  it.  Lastly,  in  a  corner  close  beside 
the  bed,  I  spied  a  long-barrelled  firelock  with  bandoliers 
complete.  I  was  about  to  reach  this  (and  very  joyously) 
when  my  lady's  voice  arrested  me. 

"  Martin,  are)  you  there?    Are  you  safe?  " 

"  Indeed !  "  answered  I,  "  And  Damaris,  I  have  found 
you  treasure  beyond  price." 

"Oh,  Martin,  is  it  Bartlemy's  treasure  —  the  jewels?" 

*'  Better  than  that  a  thousand  times ;  I  have  found  you  a 
real  cooking-pot ! " 

"  Oh,  wonderful !  Show  me  !  Nay,  let  me  see  for  my- 
self.    Come  and  aid  me  up,  Martin." 

Setting  down  my  candle,  I  crawled  back  where  she 
stood  all  eager  impatience  and,  clasping  her  hands  in  mine, 
drew  her  up  and  on  hands  and  knees  brought  her  into 
the  cave. 

"  Here 's  a  goodly  place,  comrade !  "  said  I. 

"  Yes,  Martin." 

"  With  a  ladder  to  come  and  go  by,  this  should  make 
you  a  noble  bedchamber." 

"Never!"  said  she.     "Oh,  never!" 

"And  wherefore  not?" 

"  First  because  I  like  my  little  cave  best,  and  second 
because  this  is  too  much  like  a  dungeon,  and  third  because 
I  like  it  not  —  and  hark  I "  and  indeed  as  we  spoke  the 
echoes  hissed  and  whispered  all  about  us. 

"  Why,  't  is  airy  and  very  dry ! " 

"  And  very  dark  by  day,  Martin." 

"  True  enough !     Still,  't  is  a  wondrous  place  —  " 

"  Oh,  very,  Martin,  only  I  like  it  not  at  all." 

"  Why  then  the  bed,  the  bed  should  serve  you  well." 


2  54     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

**  No !  "  said  she,  mighty  vehement.  "  You  shall  make 
me  a  better  an  you  will,  or  I  will  do  with  my  bed  of  fern." 

"  Well,  then,  this  pot  —  here  is  noble  iron  pot  for  you, 
at  least ! " 

"  Why,  yes,"  said  she,  smiling  to  see  me  all  chapf alien ; 
**  't  is  indeed  a  very  good  pot ;  let  us  bring  it  away  with 
us,  though  indeed  I  could  do  very  well  without  it." 

"  Lord !  "  said  I  gloomily.  "  Here  have  I  found  you 
all  these  goodly  things,  not  to  mention  chair  and  table, 
thinking  to  please  you  and  instead  —  " 

"  I  know,  Martin,  forgive  me,  but  I  love  not  the  place 
nor  anything  in  it.  I  am  very  foolish  belike,  but  so  it 
is."  And  here  she  must  needs  shiver.  "  As  to  these 
things  —  the  bed,  the  chair  and  table  and  the  shelves 
yonder  —  why,  you  can  contrive  better  than  they  in  time, 
Martin ;  and  by  your  thought  and  labour  they  will  be 
doubly  ours,  made  by  you  for  our  two  selves  and  used  by 
none  but  us."  z 

"  True,"  said  I,  greatly  mollified.  "  But  this  pot  now ; 
I  can  never  make  you  so  brave  a  pot  as  this." 

*'  Why,  very  well,  Martin,"  said  she,  smiling  at  my 
earnestness,  "bring  it  and  let  us  begone."  So  I  reached 
down  the  pot  and  espied  therein  a  long-barrelled  pistol; 
whipping  it  out,  I  blew  off  the  dust  and  saw  't  was  primed 
and  loaded  with  flint  in  place,  albeit  very  rusty.  I  was 
yet  staring  at  this  when  my  lady  gave  a  little  soft  cry  of 
pleasure  and  came  to  me  with  somewhat  hidden  behind 
her. 

"Martin,"  said  she,  "'tis  a  good  place  after  all, 
for  see  —  see  what  it  hath  given  you  !  "  And  she  showed 
me  that  which  I  had  yearned  for  so  bitterly,  viz :  a  good, 
stout  saw.  Tossing  aside  the  pistol,  I  took  it  eagerly 
enough  and,  though  it  was  rusty,  a  very  serviceable  tool 
I  found  it  to  be. 

"  Ha,  comrade ! "  said  I,  "  now  shall  you  have  a  chair 
with  arms,  a  cupboard,  and  a  bed  fit  to  lie  on;  here  is  all 
the  furniture  you  may  want ! " 

"  And  now,"  said  she,  "  let  us  begone,  if  you  would  have 


How  I  Found  a  Secret  Cave    255 

your  supper,  Martin."  So  I  followed  her  through  the 
little  tunnel  and,  having  lowered  her  on  to  the  table,  gave 
her  the  pot  and  then  (albeit  she  was  mighty  unwilling) 
turned  back,  minded  to  bring  away  the  firelock  and  pistol 
and  any  such  odds  and  ends  as  might  serve  me. 

Reaching  the  cave,  I  heard  again  the  dismal  groans 
and  wailing  but  much  louder  than  before  and,  coming  to 
the  door,  saw  it  opened  on  a  steep  declivity  of  rock 
wherein  were  rough  steps  or  rather  notches  that  yet  gave 
good  foothold.  So  I  began  to  descend  this  narrow  way, 
my  candle  before  me  and  taking  vast  heed  to  my  feet, 
but  as  I  got  lower  the  rock  grew  moist  and  slimy,  so 
that  I  was  half  minded  to  turn  back ;  but  having  come 
thus  far,  determined  to  see  where  it  might  bring  me,  for 
now,  from  the  glooms  below,  I  could  hear  the  soft  lapping 
of  water.  Then  all  at  once  I  stopped  and  stood  shiver- 
ing (as  well  I  might)  for  immediately  beneath  me  I  saw  a 
narrow  ledge  of  rock  and  beyond  this  a  pit,  black  and 
noisome  and  full  of  sluggish  water. 

For  a  long  while  (as  it  seemed)  I  stared  down  into 
this  water  scarce  daring  to  move  lest  I  plunge  into  this 
dreadful  abyss  where  the  black  water,  lapping  sluggishly, 
made  stealthy,  menacing  noises  very  evil  to  hear.  At  last 
I  turned  about  (and  mighty  careful)  and  so  made  my 
ways  up  and  out  of  this  unhallowed  place  more  painfully 
than  I  had  come.  Reaching  the  cave  at  last  (and  very 
thankful),  I  sought  to  close  the  door  but  found  it  to 
resist  my  efforts.  This  but  made  me  the  more  determined 
to  shut  out  this  evil  place  with  its  cold-breathing  air,  and 
I  began  to  examine  this  door  to  discover  the  reason  of  its 
immobility.  Now  this  (as  I  have  said)  was  a  narrow 
door  and  set  betwixt  jambs  and  with  lintel  above  very 
strong  and  excellent  well  contrived;  but  as  I  lifted  my 
candle  to  view  it  better,  I  stopped  all  at  once  to  stare  up 
at  a  something  fixed  midway  in  this  lintel,  a  strange, 
shrivelled  black  thing  very  like  to  a  great  spider  with 
writhen  legs  updrawn ;  and  now,  peering  closer,  I  saw 
this  was  a  human  hand  hacked  off  midway  'twixt  wrist 


256 


Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 


and  elbow  and  skewered  to  the  lintel  by  a  great  nail.  And 
as  I  stood  staring  up  at  this  evil  thing,  from  somewhere 
in  the  black  void  beyond  the  door  rose  a  long,  agonised 
wailing  that  rose  to  a  bubbling  shriek ;  and  though  I  knew 
this  for  no  more  than  some  trick  of  the  wind,  I  felt  my 
flesh  tingle  to  sudden  chill.  Howbeit,  I  lifted  my  candle 
higher  yet  and  thus  saw  beneath  this  shrivelled,  claw-like 
hand  a  parchment  nailed  very  precisely  at  its  four  cor- 
ners, though  black  with  dust.  Wiping  this  dust  away,  I 
read  these  words  very  fair  writ  in  bold,  clear  characters. 

James  Ballantyne 

His  hand 

Wherewith  he  foully  murdered  a  good 

man. 

This  hand  cut  off  by  me  this  June  23  —  164-2. 

The  same  Ballantyne  having  perished  suddenly  by  a  pistol  shot 

According  to  my  oath. 

Like  rogues  —  take  warning 

ADAM    PENFEATHER. 

In  a  while  I  turned  from  this  hateful  thing  and,  coming 
to  the  bed,  began  to  examine  the  huddle  of  goatskins  and 
though  full  of  dust  and  something  stiff,  found  them  little 
the  worse  for  their  long  disuse;  the  same  applied  equally 
to  the  sailcloth,  the  which  though  j^ellow  was  still  strong 
and  serviceable.  Reaching  the  firelock  from  the  corner  I 
found  it  to  be  furnished  with  a  snaphance  or  flintlock  and, 
though  very  rusty,  methought,  cleaned  and  oiled,  it  might 
make  me  a  very  good  weapon  had  I  but  powder  and  shot. 
But  the  bandoliers  held  in  all  but  two  poor  charges, 
which  powder  I  determined  to  keep  for  the  pistol.  There- 
fore I  set  the  musket  back  in  the  corner  and  doing  so 
espied  a  book  that  lay  open  and  face  down  beneath  the 
bedstead.  Taking  it  up  I  wiped  off  the  dust  and,  opening 
this  book  at  the  first  page,  I  came  on  this: 

Adam  Penfeather. 
Hys  Journal 
1642. 


How  I  Found  a  Secret  Cave    257 

Hereupon,  perceiving  in  it  many  charts  and  maps, 
together  with  a  plan  of  the  island  very  well  drawn,  I  thrust 
it  into  my  bosom  and,  hearing  my  lady  calling  me,  took 
pistol  and  bandolier  and  so  to  supper. 

Thus,  'midst  howling  storm  and  tempest,  we  sat  down 
side  by  side  to  sup,  very  silent  for  the  most  part  by  reason 
of  this  elemental  strife  that  raged  about  our  habitation, 
filling  the  world  with  awful  stir  and  clamour. 

But  in  a  while  seeing  her  so  downcast  and  with  head 
a-droop  I  must  needs  fall  gloomy  also  and  full  of  a  grow- 
ing bitterness. 

"  Art  grieving  for  England  ?  "  said  I  at  last.  "  Yearn- 
ing for  home  and  friends  and  some  man  belike  that  loves 
and  is  beloved  again ! " 

"  And  why  not,  Martin?  " 

"Because  'tis  vain." 

*'  And  yet  't  would  be  but  natural." 

**  Aye,  indeed,"  said  I  gloomily  and  forgetting  my  sup- 
per, "for  contrasting  all  you  have  lost  —  home  and 
friends  and  love  —  with  your  present  evil  plight  here  in 
this  howling  wilderness,  't  is  small  wonder  you  weep." 

"  But  I  am  not  weeping ! "   said  she,  flushing. 

**  Yet  you  well  may,"  quoth  I,  "  for  here  are  you  at  the 
world's  end  and  with  none  but  myself  for  company." 

"  Why,  truly,  here  is  good  cause  for  tears ! "  said  she, 
flashing  her  eyes  at  me. 

"  Aye !  "  I  nodded.  "  'T  is  pity  Fate  hath  chosen  you 
so  ill  a  companion." 

"  Indeed,  and  so  it  is ! "  and  turns  her  back  on  me. 
And  so  we  sat  awhile,  she  with  her  back  to  me  and  I  gloomy 
and  despondent,  hearkening  to  the  howling  of  the  wind. 

"  You  eat  no  supper !  "  said  I  at  last. 

"  Neither  do  you !  " 

"I  am  not  hungry!" 

"Nor  I!" 

Myself.  (Speaking  after  some  while,  humbly)  Have  I 
angered  you? 

She.     Mightily! 


258      Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

Myself.     Aye,  but  how? 

She.  By  your  idle,  foolish  talk,  for  if  I  grow  thought- 
ful sometimes,  why  must  you  ever  dream  me  repining 
against  my  lot?  To-night,  hearkening  to  this  dreadful 
tempest,  I  was  full  of  gratitude  to  God  that  he  had 
brought  us  to  this  safe  harbourage  and  set  me  in  your 
companionship.  And  if  my  heart  cry  out  for  England 
sometimes  'tis  because  I  do  love  England.  Yet  my  days 
here  are  too  full  of  labour  for  vain  grieving  and  my 
labour,  like  my  sleep,  is  joy  to  me.  And  there  is  no  man 
I  love  in  England  —  or  anywhere  else. 

Mi/self.  (And  more  humbly  than  ever)  Why,  then,  I 
pray  you  forgive  me,  comrade. 

At  this  she  looked  at  me  over  her  shoulder,  frowning 
and  a  little  askance. 

"  For,  indeed,"  said  I,  meeting  this  look,  "  I  would 
have  you  know  me  ever  as  your  comrade  to  serve  you 
faithfully,  seeking  only  your  friendship  and  nought  be- 
yond; one  you  may  trust  unf earing  despite  my  ungentle 
ways." 

And  now  I  saw  her  frown'  was  vanished  quite,  her  eyes 
grown  wondrous  gentle  and  her  lips  curving  to  a  smile; 
and  so  she  reached  out  her  hand  to  me. 

And  thus  we  two  poor,  desolate  souls  found  great  solace 
and  comfort  in  each  other's  companionship  and,  hearken- 
ing to  the  roar  of  this  mighty  tempest,  felt  the  bonds  of 
our  comradeship  only  strengthened  thereby. 

When  my  lady  was  gone  to  bed  I,  remembering  Adam's 
journal,  took  it  out  and  drawing  the  candle  nearer  fell  to 
examining  the  book  more  closely.  It  was  a  smallish  volume 
but  very  thick,  and  with  very  many  close-written  pages, 
its  stout  leathern  covers  battered  and  stained,  and  an  ill- 
looking  thing  I  thought  it.  But  opening  it  haphazard,  I 
forgot  all  save  the  words  I  read,  these  written  in  Adam's 
small,  clerkly  hand,  for  I  came  on  this : 

May  10.  Glory  be  and  thanks  unto  that  Providence  hath 
been  my  salvation  and  poured  upon  unworthy  me  His  blessing 


How  I  Found  a  Secret  Cave    259 

in  that  I  this  day  have  fought  and  killed  this  murderous  rogue 
and  detestable  pirate  Roger  Tressady. 

Here  followed  divers  accounts  of  his  labours,  his  dis- 
covery of  these  caves  and  many  cunning  devices  day  by 
day  until  I  came  on  this : 

May  28.  To-day  a  storm-beat  pinnace  standing  in  for  my 
island  and  in  it  Abnegation  Mings  and  divers  others  of 
Bartlemy's  rogues,  survivors  (as  I  judge)  of  that  cursed  ship 
"  Lady's  Delight."  They  landed,  being  fifteen  in  all  and  I  in 
great  fear  and  distress  therefore.  They  leaving  their  boat 
un watched  I  stole  thither  and  to  my  great  joy  found  therein 
a  watch-coat  and  bonnet,  3  muskets,  2  swords,  5  pistols  with 
powder  and  shot,  all  of  which  I  did  hide  among  the  rocks  ad- 
jacent (a  cunning  hiding  pdace)  where  I  may  fetch  them  at 
my  leisure,  Providence  aiding. 

May  29.  This  day  1  hour  before  dawn  secured  arms, 
powder,  &c.  and  very  grateful  therefore. 

May  30.  To-day  set  about  strengthening  and  fortifying 
my  door  since  though  Roger  Tressady  is  dead  there  be  other 
rogues  yet  to  slay,  their  evil  minds  being  full  of  lust  for  Black 
Bartlemy's  Treasure  and  my  blood.     And  these  their  names: 

A  true  list  of  these  rogues  each  and  every  known  to  me 
aforetime  in  Tortuga,  viz: 


My  enemies. 
Abnegation   Mings    (Mate  of 

the  Vengeance  Galley) 
Benjamin  Galbally 
Jasper  Vokes 
Juliano  Bartolozzi 
Benjamin  Denton 
Pierre  Durand 
John  Ford 
James  Ballantyne 
Izaac  Pym 
Robert  Ball 
William  Loveday 
Daniel  Marston 
Ebeneezer  Phips 
A  bov  and  one  woman. 


My  equipment  against  these 

same. 
A  determined  mind. 
3  Musquets  with  powder  and 

shot  a-plenty. 
2  Swords. 

1  Axe. 

2  Pikes. 
5  Pistols. 

A  chain-shirt. 


2  6o     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

June  1.  This  day,  waked  by  a  shot  and  the  sounds  of  lewd 
brawling,  I  to  my  look-out  and  mighty  alarmed.  Upon  the 
sands  a  fire  and  thereby  a  woman  and  6  or  7  of  these  rogues 
fighting  for  her.  She,  poor  soul,  running  to  escape,  falls 
shot  and  they  to  furious  fight.  But  my  hopes  of  their  de- 
stroying each  other  and  saving  me  this  labour  vain  by  reason 
of  Abnegation  Mings  bringing  them  to  accord.  Thereafter 
they  to  drinking  and  singing  of  this  lewd  piratical  rant  of 
theirs.  Whereupon  I  tried  a  shot  at  them  with  my  long- 
barrelled  arquebus  to  no  purpose.  Have  made  me  some  ink 
and  do  answer  very  well. 

June  2.  Went  a-hunting  three  of  my  destroyers,  viz:  the 
rogues  Galbally,  Vokes  and  Bartalozzi.  But  they  well-armed 
and  keeping  always  in  company  did  no  more  than  harm  Vokes 
in  the  leg  by  a  bullet  and  so  to  my  fort  and  mighty  downcast. 
Began  to  make  myself  a  chair  with  arms.  This  day  also 
wrote  me  out  divers  parchments  thus: 

Jasper  Vokes 

Slain  of  necessity  this  [day] 

Like  Rogues  take  warning 

ADAM    PENFEATHER. 

and  of  these  parchments  13  (the  boy  being  already  dead)  with 
every  rogue  his  name  fair  writ  that  they  might  know  me  for 
man  of  my  word  and  leave  me  and  my  treasure  in  peace. 

June  8.  The  weather  hot  and  I  out  after  my  blood-thirsty 
enemies.  Came  on  the  French  rogue  Durand  and  him  sleep- 
ing. Removed  his  fire-arms  and  kicked  him  awake.  He  to  his 
sword  and  I  to  mine.  Took  him  in  quarte  at  the  third  passado 
through  the  right  eye.  A  shrewd  thrust.  Tied  a  parchment 
about  his  neck  and  so  to  my  refuge  very  full  of  gratitude. 

June  If..  To-day,  guided  by  Providence,  surprized  Izaac 
Pym  gorging  himself  on  wild  grapes.  Spying  me  he  whips 
out  his  pistol.  But  I  fired  first.  Tied  a  parchment  about  his 
neck  and  so  left  him. 

June  5.  Evil  days  for  me  since  these  murderous  rogues 
keep  ever  together  now  and  on  their  watch  against  me  day 
and  night.     My  great  chair  finished  and  all  I  could  wish  it. 

June  9.  This  night  the  moon  full  they  assaulted  my  fort 
with  huge  halloo  and  many  shot,  battering  my  door  with  a 


How  I  Found  a  Secret  Cave    261 

great  log  for  ram.  But  I  shooting  one  and  wounding  others, 
they  left  me  in  peace. 

June  10.  All  this  day  ventured  not  abroad  fearing  an 
ambuscado.  And  lighting  a  fire  within  my  inner  cave  the 
smoke  showed  me  how  I  might  hide  from  my  bloodthirsty  foes 
an  need  be. 

June  11.  My  would-be  slayers  camped  all  about  my  refuge 
and  howling  for  my  blood  though  keeping  them  out  of  my  line 
of  fire.  So  I  to  making  me  a  ladder  of  ropes  whereby  to  come 
at  my  new-found  sanctuary. 

Determine  to  make  this  my  bed-chamber. 

June  12.  My  cruel  enemies  yet  raging  about  me  ravening 
for  my  blood  and  I  very  fearful.  Have  taken  down  my  bed 
to  set  it  within  my  secret  chamber. 

June  IS.  This  morning  early  the  rogue  Benjamin  Denton 
venturing  within  my  fire-zone  took  a  bullet  in  his  midriff 
whereof  he  suddenly  perished. 

June  IJf.  This  morning  having  gotten  all  my  furniture  into 
my  secret  chamber  do  find  myself  very  comfortable.  But  my 
stores  beginning  to  run  low  do  put  myself  on  half-rations. 

June  15.  My  murderers  very  silent  with  intent  to  lure  me 
to  my  death  but  I  .  .  . 

The  rest  of  this  page  was  so  stained  and  blotted  that  I  could 
make  nothing  of  it  save  a  word  or  phrase  here  and  there  as : 
.  .  .  secret  pass  .  .  .  pit  of  black  water  and  very  .  .  .  fear 
of  death  ,  .  .  head  over  ears  ...  to  my  chin  so  that  I  .  .  . 
miserably  wet  ...  on  hands  and  knees  being  determined  .  .  . 
wonderful  beyond  thought  for  here  .  .  .  tlemy's  Treasure 
.  .  .  very  great  .  .  .  this  gold  I  saw  was  .  .  .  emeralds, 
diamonds  and  .  .  .  pearls  a-many  .  .  .  through  my  fingers 
.  .  .  like  any  poor  crazed  soul.  For  here  was  treasure  greater 
.  .  .  moreover  and  wealth  undreamed  .  .  .  shaft  of  .  .  .  sud- 
denly .  .  .  the  valley.  .  .  .  sore  annoyed  I  stood  to  .  .  . 
he  knelt  .  .  .  seeking  the  water  .  .  .  turned  .  .  .  our  knives 
.  .  .  through  my  forearm  but  I  .  .  .  broke  short  against  my 
chain-shirt  and  I  .  .  .  beneath  the  arm-pit.  So  back  by  the 
secret  way  to  bind  up  my  hurt  and  behold  again  my  treasure. 

Here  my  candle  dying  out  and  I  In  the  dark,  I  laid  the 
book  asi^e  and  presently  got  me  to  sleep. 


CHAPTER   XXVn 
We  Explore  the  Island 

I  OPENED  my  eyes  to  a  great  beam  of  sun  pouring  in  at 
the  open  doorway,  whereby  I  judged  my  companion  al- 
ready astir.  So  I  arose  forthwith  and,  going  out  of  the 
cave,  stood  amazed  to  see  the  havoc  wrought  by  last  night's 
storm.  For  everywhere  lay  trees  torn  and  uprooted,  and 
in  divers  of  the  more  exposed  places  the  wind  it  seemed 
had  swept  them  utterly  away,  so  that  the  landscape  here 
and  there  wore  an  air  unfamiliar  and  not  to  be  recognised. 
Though  the  wind  was  died  away,  I  saw  the  sea  yet  rolling 
tempestuous  to  break  in  foam  upon  the  reef  and  with 
dreadful  roar.  Looking  down  on  Deliverance  Beach,  I 
beheld  its  white  sands  littered  with  piles  of  driftwood  and 
over  all  a  cloudless  blue  with  the  sun  new-risen  and  very 
hot. 

And  now,  taking  my  hooks  and  line  and  a  pliant  bough 
for  rod,  I  went  forth  to  angle  for  breakfast.  Heaching 
the  lagoon,  great  wonder  was  it  to  behold  these  waters  so 
smooth  and  placid  while  the  surf  foamed  and  blundered 
beyond  the  reef.  I  now  baited  my  hooks  with  fat  of  the 
goat  and  betook  me  to  my  angling ;  nor  had  I  long  to  wait 
ere  I  felt  a  jerk  on  my  line  and,  tingling  with  the  joy  of 
it,  I  whipped  my  rod  so  furiously  that  my  fish  whirled 
glittering  through  the  air  and  flying  from  my  hook  lay 
floundering  on  the  sands  behind  me;  and  though  of  no 
great  size  yet  a  very  good  fish  I  thought  him.  And  in- 
deed I  found  the  fish  to  bite  readily  enough  and  mighty 
dexterous  to  filch  my  bait,  and  though  I  lost  a-many  yet 
I,  becoming  more  expert,  contrived  to  land  five  likely  fish 
of  different  sizes  and  of  marvellous  colouring. 

So  there  sat  I  in  the  shade  of  a  rock,  mighty  content 


We  Explore  the  Island        263 

and  quite  lost  in  the  joy  of  my  sport  until,  chancing  to 
lift  my  gaze,  I  beheld  my  companion  upon  the  rocks  over 
against  me,  gazing  away  across  the  troubled  ocean.  And 
beholding  all  the  grace  of  her  as  she  stood  thus,  her 
shapely  figure  poised  and  outlined  against  the  blue  sky, 
her  long  hair  rippling  in  the  soft  wind,  I  clean  forgot  my 
fish,  for  indeed  it  seemed  I  had  not  noticed  the  vigorous 
beauty  of  her  imtil  now.  And  in  this  moment,  as  I  sat 
staring  up  at  her,  she  turned  and  spying  me,  waved  her 
hand  in  cheery  greeting  and  began  to  descend  these  rocks, 
leaping  sure-footed  from  ledge  to  ledge,  lithe  and  graceful 
as  any  fabled  nymph  or  goddess  of  them  all.  But  I,  well 
knowing  the  danger  of  these  rocks,  watched  her  with  breath 
in  check  and  mighty  anxious  until  she  sprang  nimbly  to 
the  sands  and  so  came  running  all  joyous  to  meet  me. 
Hereupon  I  caught  up  my  forgotten  angle  and  found  my 
hook  empty,  whereat  she  must  needs  fall  a-laughing  at  my 
discomfiture. 

"  Oh,  Martin,"  says  she,  "  what  a  glory  of  sun  and  sea 
and  sky  and  the  wind  so  sweet !  Indeed  it  seems  as  Nature 
would  make  us  amends  for  the  cruel  storm,  for  the  poor 
trees  have  suffered  greatly." 

"  Aye,  comrade,"  quoth  I,  "  so  is  there  much  fruit  for 
us  to  gather  ere  it  rot,  and  great  store  of  palm  nuts  which 
are  good  food  and  useful  in  a  thousand  ways." 

"  But  Nature  is  very  cruel,  Martin,  for  I  have  seen 
many  birds  lying  dead  and  over  yonder  a  poor  goat 
crushed  by  a  tree." 

"^Vhy,  then,  these  we  will  eat  also,  at  least,  such  as 
we  may." 

"  Nay,  Martin,  your  mind  runneth  overmuch  on  food, 
methinks." 

"  Mayhap  ! "  said  I.  "  Howbeit,  here  are  fish  to  our 
breakfast ! "  Hereupon  she  falls  on  her  knees  to  behold 
my  catch  and  very  full  of  wonder. 

"  Indeed,"  said  she,  "  meseemeth  we  have  strayed  into 
Paradise,  for  even  the  fish  are  beautiful.  Why  stare  you 
so,  Martin;  is  it  so  wonderful  I  joy  in  life  and  find  it 


264      Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

sweet  in  so  fair  a  world  and  on  such  a  day?  Moreover  I 
have  been  swimming — " 

"  How,"  said  I,  "  and  the  sea  so  rough ! " 

"  I  have  found  me  a  Httle  bay  where  the  waters  run 
smooth  and  deep.  But  come,  let  us  breakfast,  for  to-day, 
Martin,  to-day  we  will  explore  our  island." 

"Why,  I  had  thought  to  try  my  saw  to-day,"  said  I. 
"  I  had  intended  to  begin  a  chair  for  you  —  " 

"Nay,  let  this  rest  awhile,  Martin;  to-day  I  yearn  to 
adventure  the  unknown.  Who  can  say  what  marvels  and 
wonders  lie  waiting  us." 

"  As  you  will ! "  said  I,  rising,  and  so  away  to  the 
plateau. 

Now,  very  soon  I  had  the  fire  a-going,  and  while  she 
bustled  to  and  fro  preparing  breakfast  and  singing  very 
sweet  and  blithe  to  hear,  I  took  the  pistol  and,  having 
cleaned  and  oiled  it,  found  it  very  well;  then  I  loaded  it 
with  one  of  my  six  bullets,  using  a  strip  from  my  ragged 
shirt  sleeve  for  wads.  This  done,  I  laid  it  by  and,  going 
for  Adam*s  journal,  I  cut  therefrom  the  map  of  the  island 
and  feU  to  studying  it  with  a  view  to  our  forthcoming 
journey.    The  which  map  I  give  herewith: 

Hearing  my  companion  call  me,  I  went  out  to  find  break- 
fast ready,  the  fish  broiled  and  very  appetising.  While  we 
ate  I  showed  her  Adam's  map  and  she  greatly  pleased 
therewith  and  anxious  to  know  how  I  came  by  it,  all  of 
which  I  told  her.  And  she,  examining  this  plan,  grew  but 
the  more  eager  to  be  gone  on  this  expedition. 

**  But,  Martin,"  said  she  all  at  once,  as  she  studied  the 
map.  "  Master  Penfeather  would  seem  to  have  been  forced 
to  slay  a  great  number  of  poor  men ;  here  be  —  one  —  two 
—  three —  Oh,  many  men  all  dead  by  his  hand  —  and 
each  marked  with  a  little  cross." 

"  Aye,"  I  nodded,  "  and  each  and  every  '  slain  of  neces- 
sity.' " 

"Which  meaneth  —  what,  Martin?" 

**  Murder,  like  as  not,  though  't  is  all  cunningly  glozed 
in  his  journal." 


We  Explore  the  Island         265 

"I  would  fain  see  this  journal,  Martin." 
"Why,  so  you  shall  and  judge  thereby  whether  he  be 
rogue  or  no,  for  't  is  beyond  me." 

"  But  now,"  said  she,  rising,  "  let  us  make  ready  for  our 


journey,  though  'twill  be  no  great  matter,  for  according 
to  this  plan  the  island  is  no  more  than  seven  miles  long 
and  some  five  miles  wide." 

"  Even  so,"  quoth  I,  "  't  will  be  ill  travelling  by  reason 


2  66     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

of  woods  and  tangled  thickets,  swamps  and  the  like,  so  I 
judge  'twill  take  the  whole  day." 

"  Why,  then,"  said  she,  leaping  up,  "  the  sooner  we  start 
the  better,  Martin." 

Hereupon,  finding  her  so  set  on  it,  I  proceeded  to  equip 
myself  for  the  journey;  in  my  belt  I  thrust  my  trusty 
knife  and  the  hatchet,  these  balanced  by  the  pistol,  and 
over  my  shoulders  I  slung  my  bow  and  quiver  of  arrows 
and  chose  me  a  good  stout  sapling  for  staff.  Soon  cometh 
my  companion,  her  slender  middle  girt  by  a  goatskin  girdle 
whereto  she  had  hung  our  other  sheath  knife  and  my 
wallet ;  so  we  set  out  together,  side  by  side.  Reaching  the 
little  valley,  we  turned  off  to  the  right,  or  westerly,  ac- 
cording to  Adam's  map,  following  the  stream  that  rippled 
amid  great  boulders  or  flowed  'twixt  banks  adorned  with 
many  hued  flowers  most  rare  to  be  seen.  And  here  were 
bushes  of  all  kinds  and  trees  a-plenty  untouched  by  the 
gale,  for  the  little  valley,  being  well  secluded,  it  fortuned 
the  wind  had  passed  it  over.  Up  rose  the  sim,  waxing 
ever  hotter,  so  that,  reaching  a  grove  of  trees,  I  would  have 
my  companion  rest  awhile  in  this  right  pleasant  shade  the 
whiles  I,  with  certain  great  leaves,  contrived  a  covering 
for  her  head  and  another  for  my  own;  which  done,  we 
fared  on  again,  and  she  very  merry  by  reason  of  the  strange 
figures  we  cut.  Thus  we  presently  came  out  of  the  valley 
into  a  pleasant  champaign,  a  rolling,  grassy  upland  with 
dim  woods  beyond,  even  as  Adam  had  set  forth  in  his  map. 
Wherefore  guided  by  this  map  we  struck  off  north  and 
so  in  a  while  came  again  to  the  river  and  heard  the  roar 
of  the  waterfall  away  to  our  left;  and,  turning  thither 
(I  being  minded  to  show  her  this  wonder),  we  saw  before 
us  a  high  land,  well  girt  about  by  bush  and  fern  and 
flowering  shrubs,  up  which  we  scrambled  forthwith,  the 
roar  of  the  fall  waxing  louder  as  we  climbed.  Reaching 
the  summit,  we  saw  it  had  once  been  covered  by  noble 
trees,  some  few  of  which  the  storm  had  left  standing  yet, 
but  for  the  most  part  they  lay  wind-tossed  in  wild  and 
tangled  confusion. 


We  Explore  the  Island         267 

"  Oh,  Martin !  "  said  my  companion.  And  so  stood  awed 
by  the  destruction  wrought  by  this  mighty  and  pitiless 
tempest.  Here  was  ill  going  but  by  dint  of  labour  with 
my  hatchet  I  forced  us  a  way  through  the  wreckage  until 
we  suddenly  came  where  we  might  behold  the  fall  that  leapt 
from  the  adjacent  rocks,  all  rainbow-hued,  to  plunge  into 
those  deep  and  troubled  waters  below. 

And  now,  instead  of  bursting  forth  into  cries  of  de- 
lighted wonder,  as  I  had  expected,  my  companion  stood 
mute  and  still,  her  hands  tight-clasped,  viewing  now  the 
splendour  of  these  falling  waters,  now  the  foam-sprent 
deeps  below,  like  one  quite  dumbfounded.    At  last, 

"  Oh,  Martin,"  says  she  in  my  ear,  for  the  noise  of  the 
fall  was  very  loud,  "  here  is  wonder  on  wonder !  " 

"  As  how,  comrade.''  " 

"  This  great  body  of  water,  for  all  its  weight,  yet  dis- 
turbeth  yonder  black  depths  very  little  —  and  how  should 
this  chance  except  this  dark  lake  be  immeasurably  deep?  " 

"  Aye,  time ! "  said  I.  "  Here  belike  was  a  volcano  once 
and  this  the  crater." 

Hard  by,  a  great  rock  jutted  out  above  the  lake,  that 
same  barren  rock  whereon  I  had  sat  the  day  I  discovered 
this  cataract;  now  as  I  viewed  this  rock  I  was  struck  by 
its  grotesque  shape  and  then,  all  at  once,  I  saw  it  was 
hatefully  like  to  a  shrivelled  head ;  there  were  the  fleshless 
jaws,  the  shrunken  nose  and  great,  hollow  eye  socket. 
And  now,  even  as  I  stared  at  the  thing,  my  companion 
spied  it  also,  for  I  felt  her  hand  on  my  arm  and  saw  her 
stand  to  view  it  wide-eyed.  So  we,  speaking  no  word, 
stared  upon  this  shape,  and  ever  as  we  stared  the  nameless 
evil  of  it  seemed  to  grow,  insomuch  that  we  turned  with 
one  accord  and  hasted  away. 

"  Yonder  was  an  ill  sight,  Martin." 

"  Indeed !  "  said  I.  "  'T  was  like  the  face  of  one  long 
dead !  And  yet  't  is  no  more  than  a  volcanic  rock !  Na- 
ture playeth  strange  tricks  sometimes,  and  here  was  one 
vastly  strange  and  most  unlovely ! "  After  this  we  went 
on  side  by  side  and  never  a  word  betwixt  us  until  we  had 


2  68     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

reached  that  pleasant  champaign  country  where  flowed  the 
river  shaded  by  goodly  trees  in  whose  branches  fluttered 
birds  of  a  plumage  marvellously  coloured  and  diverse,  and 
beneath  which  bloomed  flowers  as  vivid ;  insomuch  that  my 
lady  brake  forth  ever  and  anon  into  little  soft  cries  of 
delighted  wonder.  And  yet,  despite  all  these  marvels,  it 
was  long  ere  we  shook  off  the  evil  of  that  ghastly  rock. 

Presently  as  we  journeyed  came  a  wind  sweet  and  fresh 
from  the  sea,  offsetting  the  sun's  immoderate  heat  to  our 
great  comfort,  so  that,  though  ofttimes  our  way  was  toil- 
some, our  spirits  rose  notwithstanding,  and  we  laughed 
and  talked  unfeignedly  as  only  good  comrades  may. 

By  noon  we  had  reached  a  place  of  rocks  where,  accord- 
ing to  Adam's  map,  should  be  a  ford,  though  hereabouts 
the  stream,  swollen  by  the  late  rains,  ran  deep.  Howbeit, 
we  presently  came  upon  the  ford  sure  enough  and,  having 
crossed  it,  my  lady  must  needs  fall  to  admiring  at  her  new 
shoes  again,  finding  them  water-fast. 

"  And  they  so  comfortable  and  easy  to  go  in,  Martin ! " 

"  Why,  you  have  footed  it  bravely  thus  far ! "  said  I. 
"But  —  " 

"But.?"  said  she.  "And  what  then?  You  shall  find 
me  no  laggard  these  days,  Martin.  Indeed  I  could  run 
fast  as  you,  for  all  your  long  legs,  sir," 

So  she  challenged  me  to  race  her  forthwith,  whereupon 
(and  despite  the  sun)  we  started  off  side  by  side  and  she 
so  fleet  that  I  might  scarce  keep  pace  with  her;  thus  we 
ran  until  at  last  we  stopped,  all  flushed  and  breathless  and 
laughing  for  the  pure  joy  of  it. 

Presently  in  our  going  we  came  on  a  little  dell,  very 
shady  and  pleasantly  secluded,  where  flowers  bloomed  and 
great  clusters  of  wild  grapes  hung  ripe  for  the  plucking; 
and  mighty  pleasant  methought  it  to  behold  my  com- 
panion's pleased  wonderment.  Here  we  sat  to  rest  and 
found  these  grapes  very  sweet  and  refreshing. 

Much  might  I  tell  of  the  marvels  of  this  island,  of  fruit 
and  bird  and  beast,  of  the  great  butterflies  that  wheeled 
and   hovered   resplendent   and   of   the   many    and   divers 


We  Explore  the  Island         269  ' 

wonders  that  beset  us  at  every  turn;  but  lest  my  nar- 
rative grow  to  immoderate  length  (of  the  which  I  do  al- 
read}'  begin  to  entertain  some  doubt),  I  will  pass  these 
with  this  mere  mention  and  hurry  on  to  say  that  we 
tramped  blithely  on  until,  the  sun  declining  westwards, 
warned  us  to  be  turning  back;  but  close  before  us  rose 
that  high  hill  whose  summit  towered  above  the  island,  and 
my  companion  mighty  determined  that  she  must  climb  it. 

"  For  Martin,"  said  she,  scornful  of  all  weariness, 
"  once  up  there  we  may  behold  all  our  domain  spread  out 
before  us ! " 

So  having  skirted  the  woods  and  avoided  tangled 
thickets  as  well  as  we  might,  we  began  the  ascent,  which 
we  found  to  be  no  great  matter  after  all.  And  now  I  be- 
thought me  how  Adam  had  sped  hot-foot  up  hereabouts 
on  a  time  and  with  Tressady's  glittering  hook  ringing 
loud  on  the  rocks  behind  him.  More  than  once  as  we 
climbed  we  came  on  flocks  of  goats  that  scampered  oif  at 
sight  of  us ;  here,  too,  I  remarked  divers  great  birds  and 
determined  to  try  a  shot  at  one  if  chance  should  offer. 
As  to  my  companion,  I  had  all  I  could  do  to  keep  up  with 
her  until,  flushed  and  breathless,  she  turned  to  view  me 
all  radiant-eyed  where  we  stood  panting  upon  the  summit. 
And  now,  beholding  the  prospect  below,  she  uttered  a  soft, 
inarticulate  cry  and,  sinking  do^vn  upon  the  sward,  pushed 
the  damp  curls  from  her  brow  the  better  to  survey  the 
scene  outstretched  before  us. 

A  rolling,  wooded  country  of  broad  savannahs,  of 
stately  groves  and  many  boskages,  of  dim  woods  and 
flashing  streams ;  a  blended  harmony  of  greens  besplashed, 
here  and  there,  with  blossoming  thickets  or  flowering  trees, 
the  whole  shut  in  by  towering,  tree-girt  cliffs  and  bounded 
by  a  limitless  ocean,  blue  as  any  sapphire. 

Viewing  the  island  from  this  eminence,  I  could  see  that 
Adam's  map  was  true  in  all  essentials  as  to  shape  and 
general  trend  of  the  country  and,  sitting  beside  my  lady, 
I  fell  to  viewing  the  island  more  narrowly,  especially  this 
eminent  place ;  and,  looking  about  me,  I  called  to  mind  how 


270     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

Adam  (according  to  his  story)  had  waged  desperate  fight 
with  Tressady  hereabouts  —  indeed,  I  thought  to  recog- 
nise the  very  spot  itself ;  viz :  a  narrow  ledge  of  rock  with, 
far  below,  a  sea  that  ran  deeply  blue  to  break  in  foam 
against  the  base  of  these  precipitous  cliffs.  Away  over 
hill  and  dale  I  saw  that  greeny  cliff  with  its  silver  thread 
of  falling  water  that  marked  our  refuge,  and  beyond 
this  again,  on  my  right  hand,  the  white  spume  of  the 
breakers  on  the  reef.  And  beholding  the  beauties  thus 
spread  out  before  my  eyes  and  knowing  myself  undisputed 
lord  of  it  all,  there  grew  within  me  a  sense  of  joy  unknown 
hitherto. 

At  last,  moved  by  a  sudden  thought,  I  turned  from  the 
beauties  of  this  our  island  to  study  the  beauty  of  her  who 
sat  beside  me;  the  proud  carriage  of  her  shapely  head 
'neath  its  silky  masses  of  hair,  the  level  brows,  the  calm, 
deep  serenity  of  her  blue  eyes,  the  delicate  nose,  full  red 
lips  and  dimpled  chin,  the  soft  round  column  of  her  throat, 
deep  bosom  and  slender  waist,  —  thus  sat  I  staring  upon 
her  loveliness,  heedless  of  all  else  until  she  stirred  uneasily, 
as  if  conscious  of  my  regard,  and  looked  at  me.  Then  I 
saw  that  her  eyes  were  serene  no  longer,  whiles  all  at  once 
throat  and  cheeks  and  brow  were  suffused  with  slow  and 
painful  colour,  yet  even  as  I  gazed  on  her  she  met  my  look 
unflinching. 

"  What  is  it,  Martin  ?  "  she  questioned,  a  little  breath- 
less still. 

*'  Suppose,"  said  I  slowly,  "  suppose  we  are  never  taken 
hence ;  suppose  we  are  destined  to  end  our  days  here .'' " 

"Surely  this  is  —  an  ill  thought,  Martin.?" 

"Indeed,  and  is  it,  my  lady.''  Can  the  world  offer  a 
home  more  fair.'' " 

"  Surely  not,  Martin." 

"  Then  wherein  lieth  the  ill  —  Damans .?  Is  it  that  you 
do  yearn  so  mightily  for  England.''" 

"  There  lieth  my  home,  Martin ! " 

"Is  home  then  so  dear  to  you.?"  Here,  finding  no 
answer,  she  grew  troubled.    "  Or  is  it,"  said  I,  bending  my 


We  Explore  the  Island         271 

staff  across  my  knee  and  beginning  to  frown,  "  or  is  it  that 
there  waits  some  man  yonder  that  you  love?  " 

"  No,  Martin,  have  I  not  told  you  —  " 

"  Why,  then,  is  it  that  you  grow  a-weary  of  my  unlovely 
ways  and  would  be  quit  of  me?  " 

"No,  Martin  —  only  —  only  —  "  Here  she  fell  silent, 
and  I  saw  her  flush  again. 

"  Or  is  it  that  you  fear  I  might  grow  to  love  you  —  in 
time?  " 

"  To  —  love  me ! "  said  she  very  softly,  and  now  I  saw 
her  red  lips  dimple  to  a  smile  as  she  stooped  to  cull  a 
flower  blooming  hard  by.  "  Nay ! "  said  she  lightly. 
"  Plere  were  a  wonder  beyond  thought,  Martin !  " 

"And  wherefore  should  this  be  so  great  wonder?"  I 
demanded. 

"  Because  I  am  Joan  Brandon  and  you  are  a  man  vowed 
and  sworn  to  vengeance,  Martin." 

"Vengeance?"  And,  with  the  word,  the  staff  snapped 
in  my  hands. 

"  Is  it  not  so,  Martin  ? "  she  questioned  wistfully. 
"  Given  freedom  from  this  island,  would  you  not  go  seek- 
ing your  enemy's  life?  Dream  you  not  of  vengeance 
still?" 

"  Aye,  true,"  said  I,  "  true !  How  should  it  be  other- 
wise? Come,  let  us  begone!"  And  casting  away  my 
broken  stafi",  I  got  to  my  feet.  But  she,  sitting  there, 
lifted  her  head  to  view  me  with  look  mighty  strange. 

"  Poor  Martin ! "  said  she  softly.     "  Poor  Martin ! " 

Then  she  arose,  albeit  slow  and  wearily,  and  we  went 
down  the  hill  together.  Now  as  we  went  thus,  I  In  black 
humour  (and  never  a  word),  I  espied  one  of  those  great 
birds  I  have  mentioned  within  easy  range  and  whipping  off 
my  bow  I  strung  It  and  setting  arrow  on  cord  let  fly  and 
brought  down  my  quarry  to  earth  (as  luck  would  have  it), 
and  running  forward  had  very  soon  despatched  it. 

"Why  must  you  kill  the  poor  thing,  Martin?  " 

"  For  supper." 

"  Supper  walteth  us  at  home." 


272      Black  Bartlemy*s  Treasure 

"Home?"  said  I. 

"The  cave,  Martin." 

"  We  shall  not  reach  there  this  night.  'T  will  be  dark 
in  another  hour  and  there  is  no  moon,  so  needs  must  we 
bide  here." 

"  As  you  will,  Martin." 

Hard  beside  the  river,  that  wound  a  devious  course 
through  the  green,  was  a  little  grove  and,  sitting  here, 
I  fell  to  plucking  the  bird. 

"  Shall  I  not  do  that,  Martin.?  " 

*'  I  can  do  it  well  enough." 

"As  you  wish,  Martin." 

*'  You  are  weary,  doubtless." 

"  Why,  't  is  no  great  labour  to  cook  supper,  Martin." 

"Howbeit,  I'll  try  my  hand  to-night." 

"  Very  well."  And  away  she  went  to  collect  sticks  for 
the  fire,  whiles  I  sat  feathering  the  bird  and  found  the 
flesh  of  it  very  white  and  delicate.  But  all  the  while  my 
anger  swelled  within  me  for  the  folly  I  had  uttered  to 
her  in  a  moment  of  impulse  concerning  love. 

Thus  as  she  knelt  beside  me  to  build  the  fire  I  spoke  my 
thought : 

"  I  said  a  vain  and  foolish  thing  to  you  a  while  since." 

**  Aye,  Martin,  you  did ! "  said  she,  bending  over  her 
pile  of  sticks.    "  But  which  do  you  mean?  " 

**  I  mean  that  folly  regarding  love." 

"Oh,  was  that  folly,  Martin?"  she  questioned,  busy 
laying  the  sticks  in  place. 

"Arrant  folly,  for  I  could  never  love  you  —  or  any 
woman  —  " 

"Why  not,  Martin?" 

"  Because  I  have  no  gift  for 't  —  no  leaning  that  way  — 
nor  ever  shall  —  " 

"  Why,  indeed,  you  are  no  ordinary  man,  Martin.  Shall 
I  light  the  fire?" 

"  No,  I  will." 

"  Yes,  Martin ! "  And  down  she  sat  with  folded  hands, 
watching  me  mighty  solemn  and  demure,  and  I  very  con- 


We  Explore  the  Island        273 

scious  of  her  scrutiny.  Having  plucked  and  drawn  my 
bird,  I  fell  to  trimming-  it  with  my  knife  yet  all  the  time 
feeling  her  gaze  upon  me  so  that  what  with  this  and  my 
anger  I  pricked  my  thumb  and  cursed  beneath  my  breath, 
whereupon  she  arose  and  left  me. 

Having  thus  prepared  my  bird  for  cooking,  I  set  it  upon 
two  sticks  and,  lighting  the  fire,  sat  down  to  watch  it. 
But  scarce  had  I  done  so  when  back  came  my  lady. 

"  Martin,"  said  she,  "  should  you  not  truss  your  bird 
first?  " 

"'Twill  do  as  it  is." 

"Very  well,  Martin.  But  why  are  you  so  short  with 
me.?  " 

"  I  am  surly  by  nature ! "  quoth  I. 

"  Aye,  true !  "  she  nodded.  "  But  why  are  you  angry 
with  me  this  time?  " 

"  I  ha'  forgot." 

"You  were  merry  enough  this  noon  and  laughed  gaily 
and  once  you  fell  a-whistling  —  " 

"  The  more  fool  I !  " 

"Why,  then,  methinks  I  do  like  your  folly  —  some- 
times !  "  said  she  softly.  "  But  now  see  this  river,  Martin ; 
'tis  called  the  Serpent  Water  in  the  map,  and  indeed  it 
winds  and  twists  like  any  snake.  But  where  should  so 
much  water  come  from,  think  you  ?    Let  us  go  look ! " 

"  Nay,  not  I  —  here 's  the  bird  to  tend  —  " 

"Why,  then,"  said  she,  stamping  her  foot  at  me  in 
sudden  anger,  "  stay  where  you  are  until  you  find  your 
temper !  And  may  your  bird  burn  to  a  cinder ! "  And 
away  she  went  forthwith  and  I  staring  after  her  like  any 
fool  until  she  was  out  of  sight.  So  there  sat  I  beside  the 
fire  and  giving  all  due  heed  to  my  cooking ;  but  in  a  while 
I  fell  to  deep  reflection  and  became  so  lost  in  my  thoughts 
that,  roused  by  a  smell  of  burning,  I  started  up  to  find 
my  bird  woefully  singed. 

This  put  me  in  fine  rage  so  that  I  was  minded  to  cast 
the  carcass  into  the  fire  and  have  done  with  it ;  and  my 
anger  grew  as  the  time  passed  and  my  companion  came 


2  74     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

not.  The  sun  sank  rapidly,  and  the  bird  I  judged  was 
well-nigh  done;  wherefore  I  began  to  shout  and  halloo, 
bidding  her  to  supper.  But  the  shadows  deepening,  and 
getting  no  answer  to  my  outcries,  I  started  up,  clean  for- 
getting my  cookery,  and  hasted  off  in  search  of  my  com- 
panion, calling  her  name  now  and  then  as  I  went.  Fol- 
lowing the  stream  I  found  it  to  narrow  suddenly  (and  it 
running  very  furious  and  deep),  perceiving  which  I  began 
to  fear  lest  some  mischance  had  befallen  my  wilful  lady. 
Presently,  as  I  hurried  on,  casting  my  eyes  here  and  there 
in  search  of  her,  I  heard,  above  the  rush,  of  the  water,  a 
strange  and  intermittent  roaring  the  which  I  could  make 
nothing  of,  until,  at  last,  forcing  my  way  through  the 
underbrush,  I  saw  before  me  a  column  of  water  that  spouted 
up  into  the  air  from  a  fissure  at  the  base  of  the  hill,  and 
this  waterspout  was  about  the  bigness  of  a  fair-sized  tree 
and  gushed  up  some  twenty  feet  or  so,  now  sinking  to  half 
this  height  only  to  rise  again.  Scarce  pausing  to  behold 
this  wonder  I  would  have  hasted  on  (and  roaring  louder 
than  the  water)  when  I  beheld  her  seated  close  by  upon  a 
rock  and  watching  me,  ckin  in  hand. 

"  Why  must  you  shout  so  loud ! "  said  she  reprovingly. 

"  I  feared  you  lost !  "  answered  I,  like  any  fool. 

"Would  it  matter  so  much?  And  you  so  angry  with 
me  and  no  reason.?" 

"  Howbeit,  supper  is  ready ! " 

"  I  am  not  hungry,  I  thank  you,  sir." 

"But  I  am!" 

"Then  go  eat!" 

"  Not  alone ! "  says  I ;  and  then  very  humbly,  "  Prithee, 
comrade,  come  to  supper ;  indeed,  you  should  be  hungry !  " 

"And,  indeed,  Martin,"  said  she,  rising  and  giving  me 
her  hand,  "  I  do  think  I  am  vastly  hungry  after  all."  So 
back  we  went  together  and,  reaching  the  fire,  found  the 
accursed  bird  burned  black  as  any  coal,  whereupon  I  stood 
mighty  downcast  and  abashed  the  wliile  she  laughed  and 
laughed  until  she  needs  must  lean  against  a  tree;  and  I, 
seeing  her  thus  merry  at  my  expense,  presently  laughed 


We  Explore  the  Island        275 

also.  Hereupon  she  fell  on  her  knees  and,  taking  the  thing 
from  the  fire,  set  it  upon  a  great  leaf  for  dish  and  turned 
it  this  way  and  that. 

"  Good  lack,  Martin ! "  said  she.  "  'T  is  burned  as 
black  e'en  as  I  wished!  This  cometh  of  your  usurpation 
of  my  duties,  sir!  And  yet  methinks  'tis  not  utterly 
spoiled ! "  And  drawing  her  knife  she  scraped  and 
trimmed  it,  cutting  away  the  burned  parts  until  there 
little  enough  remained,  but  that  mighty  delectable,  judg- 
ing by  the  smell  of  it. 

So  down  we  sat  to  supper  forthwith  and  mighty  ami- 
cable, nay,  indeed,  methought  her  kinder  than  ordinary 
and  our  friendship  only  the  stronger,  which  did  comfort 
me  mightily. 

But  our  supper  done  we  spake  little,  for  night  was  come 
upon  us  very  still  and  dark,  save  for  a  glitter  of  stars  by 
whose  unearthly  light  all  things  took  on  strange  shapes 
and  our  solitude  seemed  but  the  more  profound  and  awe- 
some. 

Above  us  a  purple  sky  be-gemmed  by  a  myriad  stars,  a 
countless  host  whose  distant  splendour  throbbed  upon  the 
night ;  round  about  us  a  gloom  of  woodsi  and  thickets  that 
hemmed  us  in  like  a  dark  and  sombre  tide,  whence  stole  a 
sweet  air  fraught  with  spicy  odours ;  and  over  all  a  deep 
and  brooding  quietude.  But  little  by  little  upon  this 
silence  crept  sounds  near  and  far,  leafy  rustlings,  a  stir- 
ring in  the  undergrowth,  the  whimper  of  some  animal,  the 
croak  of  a  bird  and  the  faint,  never-ceasing  murmur  of 
the  surge. 

And  I,  gazing  thus  upon  this  measureless  immensity, 
felt  myself  humbled  thereby,  and  with  this  came  a  knowl- 
edge of  the  futility  of  my  life  hitherto.  And  now  (as  often 
she  had  done,  ere  this)  my  companion  voiced  the  thought 
I  had  no  words  for. 

"  Martin,"  said  she  softly,  "  what  pitiful  things  are  we, 
lost  thus  in  God's  infinity." 

"  And  doth  it  affright  you,  Damaris .''  " 

"  No,  Martin,  for  God  is  all-merciful.    Yet  I  needs  must 


276     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

think  how  vain  our  little  strivings,  our  hopes  and  fears, 
how  small  our  j  oys  and  sorrows ! " 

"  Aye,  truly,  truly ! "  quoth  I. 

"  But,'*  said  she,  leaning  towards  me  in  the  firelight  and 
with  her  gaze  uplift  to  the  starry  heavens,  "  He  who  made 
the  heavens  is  a  merciful  God  '  who  hath  made  great  lights 
—  the  moon  and  the  stars  to  govern  the  night.'  So,  Martin, 
let  us  give  thanks  unto  the  Lord  '  for  He  is  good,  for  His 
mercy  endureth  forever';  and  in  this  knowledge  methinks 
we  may  surely  rest  secure." 

After  this  we  fell  silent  again,  I  for  one  being  very  full 
of  troublesome  thought  and  perplexity,  and  the  sum  of  it 
this,  viz:'  Whether  a  woman,  cast  alone  on  a  desolate 
island  with  a  man  such  as  I,  had  need  to  fear  him?  To 
the  which  question  answer  found  I  none.  Wherefore  I  got 
me  another  speculation,  to  wit:  Whether  a  man  and 
woman  thus  solitary  must  needs  go  a-falling  in  love  with 
one  another.'*  Finding  no  answer  to  this  either,  I  turned, 
half-minded  to  put  the  question  to  my  companion,  and 
found  her  fast  asleep. 

She  lay  deep-slumbering  in  the  light  of  the  fire,  her  face 
half  hid  'neath  a  tress  of  shining  hair ;  and  I,  viewing  her, 
chin  in  fist,  saw  in  her  only  the  last  of  her  hated  race 
and  knew  in  that  moment  that  never  might  there  be  aught 
of  true  love,  that  pure  passion,  high  and  ennobling,  the 
which  may  lift  man  above  his  baser  self  —  never  might  this 
be  'twixt  her  blood  and  mine.  And  knowing  this,  I  knew 
also  great  doubt  and  fear  of  myself.  And  in  my  fear  I 
lifted  my  gaze  to  the  stars,  those  "  great  lights  "  set  there 
by  the  hand  of  God ;  and  spake  thus  within  myself : 

"  Lord  God,"  quoth  I,  "  since  love  is  not  nor  ever  shall 
be  'twixt  this  my  companion  and  me,  do  Thou  protect  her 
from  the  devil  within  me ;  do  Thou  aid  me  to  keep  the  oath 
I  sware  in  Thy  name." 

But  now  (and  my  prayer  scarce  uttered)  the  Devil 
sprang  and  was  upon  me  and  I,  forgetting  all  my  oaths 
and  resolutions,  yielded  me  joyously  to  his  will.  Stirring 
in  her  slumbers,  my  lady  sighed,  turned  and,  throwing  out 


We  Explore  the  Island        277 

her  arm,  it  chanced  that  her  hand  came  upon  my  knee  and 
rested  there  and  I,  shivering  at  her  touch,  seized  this  hand 
and  caught  it  to  my  Hps  and  began  to  kiss  these  helpless 
fingers  and  the  round,  soft  arm  above.  I  felt  her  start, 
heard  her  breath  catch  in  a  sob,  but  in  my  madness  I  swept 
her  to  my  embrace.  Then  as  I  stooped,  she  held  me  off, 
striving  fiercely  against  me;  all  at  once  her  struggles 
ceased,  and  I  heard  her  breath  come  in  a  long,  tremulous 
sigh. 

"Martin!"  said  she.  "Oh,  thank  God  'tis  you!  I 
dreamed  Black  Bartlemy's  cruel  arms  were  about  me,  and 
I  was  sick  with  fear  and  horror  —  thank  God  't  is  you, 
dear  Martin,  and  I  safe  from  all  harms  soever.  So  hold  me 
an  you  will,  Martin,  you  that  have  saved  me  from  so  much 
and  will  do  till  the  end." 

"  Aye,  by  God !  "  said  I,  bending  my  head  above  her  that 
she  might  not  see  my  face.  "And  so  I  will,  faithfully, 
truly,  until  the  very  end ! " 

"  Do  I  not  know  it !  —  Oh,  do  I  not  know  it ! "  said  she 
in  choking  voice,  and  here,  lying  beside  me,  she  must  take 
my  hand  and  hold  it  to  her  soft  cheek.  "  Indeed,  I  do 
think  there  is  no  man  like  you  in  the  whole  world." 

At  this,  knowing  myself  so  unworthy,  I  thought  no  man 
in  the  world  so  miserable  as  I,  as  I  would  have  told  her 
but  dared  not. 

"  God  make  me  worthy  your  trust ! "  said  I  at  last. 

"  'T  is  a  good  prayer,  Martin.  Now  hear  mine ;  't  is 
one  I  have  prayed  full  oft:  God  make  you  strong  enough 
to  forgive  past  wrongs  and,  forgetting  vengeance,  to  love 
your  enemy." 

"  'T  is  thing  impossible !  " 

"Yet  the  impossible  shall  come  to  pass  soon  or  late, 
Martin ;  this  am  I  sure." 

"  And  why  feo  sure?  " 

"  My  heart  telleth  me  so,  Martin !  '*  answered  she 
drowsily  and,  looking  down,  I  saw  her  eyes  were  closed 
and  she  on  the  verge  of  slumber.  And  beholding  her 
thus,  my  self-hate  grew,  insomuch  that  her  fingers  loosing 


278 


Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 


their  hold,  I  stole  away  my  hand  and,  seeing  her  asleep, 
crept  from  the  place.  Being  come  to  the  stream  I  stood 
awhile  staring  down  at  the  hurrying  waters,  minded  to 
cast  myself  therein ;  but  presently  I  turned  aside  and,  com- 
ing amid  leafy  gloom,  lay  there  outstretched,  my  face  hid- 
den from  the  stars  and  I  very  full  of  bitterness,  for  it 
seemed  that  I  was  as  great  a  rogue  and  well-nigh  as  vile 
as  ever  Bartlemy  had  been.  And  thus  merciful  sleep  found 
me  at  last. 


CHAPTER   XXVIII 
How  I  Stood  Resolute  in  My  FoiLY 

The  day  was  still  young  when  we  reached  our  habitation 
and  both  of  us  glad  to  return,  especially  my  lady. 

"  For  truly  I  do  grow  to  love  this  home  of  ours,"  said  she 
and  set  herself  to  sweeping  out  her  three  caves.  As  for  me, 
I  was  determined  on  making  her  an  armchair  forthright; 
to  the  which  end  I  took  my  saw  and  set  out  for  Deliver- 
ance Sands,  there  to  cut  and  select  such  timber  as  I  needed 
from  my  store.  But  scarce  was  I  come  thither  than  I 
uttered  a  shout  of  joy,  for  there,  cast  up  high  upon  these 
white  sands,  lay  a  great  mast  in  a  tangle  of  ropes  and 
cordage. 

Drawing  near,  I  saw  this  for  the  mainmast  of  some 
noble  ship  but  lately  wrecked,  wherefore  I  hasted  along 
the  beach  and  out  upon  the  reef  to  see  if  haply  any  other 
wreckage  had  come  ashore,  but  found  nothing  to  reward 
my  search.  Returning  to  the  mast  I  saw,  to  my  joy, 
that  this  cordage  was  all  new  and  sound,  though  woefully 
tangled.  Howbeit,  I  had  soon  unravelled  some  fifty  yards 
of  good  stout  twine,  and  abundance  of  more  yet  to  hand, 
together  with  the  heavier  ropes  such  as  shrouds  and  back- 
stays. Taking  this  line,  I  came  to  that  rocky  cleft  where 
I  had  killed  the  goat  and  clambering  up  the  bush-grown 
cliff  found  it  to  be  honeycombed  with  caves  large  and  small 
and  with  abundant  evidences  of  the  animals  I  sought. 
Wherefore,  choosing  me  a  narrow,  well-worn  track,  I 
set  there  a  trap  formed  of  a  running  noose,  and  this  did  I 
in  divers  other  places,  which  done  I  returned  to  my  labour 
on  the  mast.  At  the  which  occupation  my  lady,  finding 
me,  must  needs  fall  to  work  beside  me,  aiding  as  well  as 
she  might  like  the  true  comrade  she  was. 

Thus  by  late  afternoon  I  had  coiled  and  stowed  safely 


2  8o     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

away  more  good  hempen  rope  and  cordage  than  I  could 
ever  want.  This  accomplished,  I  found  time  to  praise  my 
companion's  diligence;  but  finding  her  all  wearied  out 
with  such  rough  and  arduous  labour,  grew  mighty  vexed 
with  my  heedlessness,  reproaching  myself  therewith;  but 
she  (and  aU  toil-worn  as  she  was)  laughed  her  weariness 
to  scorn,  as  was  ever  her  way. 

"  Why,  Martin,"  said  she,  "  labour  is  a  good  thing 
and  noble,  since  it  giveth  health  and  strength  to  both 
mind  and  body.  And  'tis  my  joy  to  share  in  your  labours 
when  I  may  and  a  delight  to  see  how,  cast  here  destitute 
of  aU  things,  you  have  contrived  so  much  already.  The 
more  I  work  and  the  harder,  the  more  able  am  I  for  work, 
so  trouble  not  if  I  do  grow  a  little  weary  sometimes ! " 
This  comforted  me  somewhat  until,  chancing  to  see  her 
hands,  I  caught  them  in  mine  and,  turning  them,  saw  these 
tender  palms  all  red  and  blistered  with  the  ropes ;  and, 
grieving  over  them,  I  would  have  kissed  the  poor  little 
things  had  I  dared  (and  indeed  came  mighty  nigh  doing 
it)  as  she  perceived,  I  think,  for  she  flushed  and  laughed 
and  drew  them  from  my  hold. 

"Nay,  Martin,"  said  she  softly,  "I  would  have  you 
forget  my  sex  —  sometimes !  " 

"  'T  were  a  thing  impossible ! "  said  I,  whereat  she, 
stealing  a  glance  up  at  me,  flushed  all  the  hotter. 

"  Why,  then,"  said  she,  "  you  must  not  coddle  and 
cosset  me  because  I  am  a  woman  —  " 

"  Never,"  quoth  I.    "  'T  is  not  my  nature  to  do  so." 

"  And  yet  you  do,  Martin  —  " 

"As  how.?" 

*'  Oh,  in  a  many  ways  —  these  blisters  now ;  why  should 
your  hands  grow  rough  and  hard  and  not  mine?  Nature 
hath  formed  me  woman,  but  Fate  hath  made  me  your 
comrade,  Martin.  And  how  may  I  be  truly  your  com- 
rade except  I  share  your  toil  ?  " 

Now  when  I  would  have  answered  I  could  not  and, 
turning  from  her  to  stare  away  across  the  limitless  ocean, 
saw  it  a-gleam  through  a  mist  as  it  were. 


Resolute  in  My  Folly         281 

"  Surely,"  said  I  at  last,  "  oh,  surely  never  had  man  so 
sweet  and  true  a  comrade !  And  I  so  rude  and  unlovely  — 
and  in  all  ways  so  unworthy  —  " 

"  But  you  are  not,  Martin,  you  are  not  —  " 

"Aye,  but  I  am  —  beyond  your  guessing,  you  that  are 
so  pure,  so  saintly  —  " 

"  Saintly  ?  Oh,  Martin !  "  and  here  she  laughed,  albeit 
a  little  tremulously.  "  Surely  I  am  a  very  human  saint, 
for  I  do  grow  mighty  hungry  and  yearn  for  my  supper. 
So  prithee  let  us  go  and  eat." 

But  on  our  way  we  turned  aside  to  see  if  we  had  any 
fortune  with  my  snares ;  sure  enough,  coming  nigh  the 
place,  we  heard  a  shuffling  and  snorting  and  presently 
discovered  a  goat  fast  by  the  neck  and  half-choked,  and 
beside  her  a  little  kid  pitifully  a-bleating. 

"  Oh,  Martin !  "  cried  my  lady  and,  falling  on  her  knees, 
began  caressing  and  fondling  the  little  creature  whiles  I 
secured  the  dam,  and  mighty  joyful.  The  goat,  for  all  its 
strangling,  strove  mightily,  but  lashing  its  fore  and  hind 
legs  I  contrived  to  get  it  upon  my  shoulders  and  thus 
burdened  set  off  homewards,  my  lady  carrying  the  kid 
clasped  to  her  bosom,  and  it  very  content  there  and 
small  wonder. 

"  'T  is  sweet,  pretty  thing,"  said  my  lady,  stroking  its 
silky  hair,  "  and  shall  soon  grow  tame." 

"  And  here  is  the  beginning  of  our  flock ;  our  cheese  and 
butter  shall  not  be  long  a-lacking  now,  comrade." 

"You  must  fashion  me  a  press,  Martin." 

"  And  a  churn." 

"  Nay,  I  can  manage  well  enough  with  one  of  our 
pipkins." 

"  But  a  chum  would  be  easier  for  you,  so  a  chum  you 
shall  have,  of  sorts." 

This  evening  after  supper,  sitting  by  our  fire,  my  lady 
(and  despite  her  weariness)  was  merrier  than  her  wont 
and  very  full  of  plans  for  the  future,  deciding  for  me  what 
furniture  I  must  construct  next,  as  chairs  (two)  a  cup- 
board with  shelves  and  where  these  should  stand  when  made. 


282     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure  j 

"And,  Martin,"  said  she,  "now  that  we  own  goats,  I  J 
must  have  a  dairy  for  my  cheese-making,  and  my  dairy  ! 
shall  be  our  larder,  aye,  and  stillroom  too,  for  I  have  been  \ 
tending  our  garden  lately  and  found  growing  many  good  ] 
herbs  and  simples.  In  time,  Martin,  these  caves  shall  i 
grow  into  a  home  indeed  and  all  wrought  by  our  own  j 
hands,  and  this  is  a  sweet  thought."  i 

"Why,  so  it  is,"   said  I,   "in  very  truth  —  but  —  "  | 

"But  what,  sir.'*"  she  questioned,  lifting  admonishing  i 
finger.  1 

"  There  may  come  a  day  when  you  weary  of  it ;  how 
then? "  i 

"  Nay,  we  are  too  busy  —  "  j 

"Can  it  —  could  it  be  —  "  said  I,  beginning  to  stam-  J 
mer,  "  that  you  might  live  here  thus  content  to  —  the  end  , 
of  your  days  ?  '*  | 

"  The  end  of  my  days  ?  "  said  she,  staring  thoughtfully    , 
into  the  fire.     "Why,  Martin,  this  is  a  long  way  in  the 
future,  I  do  pray,  and  our  future  is  in  the  hands  of  God,    ■ 
so  wherefore  trouble?  "  j 

"Because  I,  who  have  been  stranger  to  Happiness  ^ 
hitherto,  dread  lest  it  may  desert  me  and  leave  me  the  more  ; 
woeful." 

"Are  you  then  happy  at  last  —  and  so  suddenly,  j 
Martin?"  i 

Now  this  put  me  to  no  little  heart-searching  and  per-  j 
plexity  for,  casting  back  over  the  time  since  our  landing  j 
on  the  island,  I  knew  that,  despite  my  glooms  and  ill-  '; 
humours,  happiness  had  come  to  me  in  that  hour  I  had  ^ 
found  her  alive.  ,  j 

"  Why,  I  am  no  longer  the  miserable  wretch  I  was,"  • 
quoth  I  at  last. 

"Because  of  late  you  have  forgot  to  grieve  for  your-  ; 
self  and  past  wrongs  and  sorrows,  Martin.  Mayhap  you  1 
shall  one  day  forget  them  quite."  ' 

"Never!"    quoth  I.  i 

"  Yes,  so  do  I  hope,  Martin,  with  all  my  heart,"  said  she  ! 
and  with  a  great  sigh.  i 


Resolute  in  My  Folly  283 

*'Whj,  then,  fain  would  I  forget  an  I  might,  but  'tis 
beyond  me.  The  agony  of  the  rowing-bench  —  the  shame 
of  stripes  —  the  blood  and  bestiality  of  it  all  —  these  I 
may  never  forget." 

"Why,  then,  Martin  —  dear  Martin,"  said  she,  all 
suddenly,  slipping  from  her  stool  to  kneel  before  me  and 
reach  out  her  two  hands,  "  I  do  pray  our  Heavenly 
Father,  here  and  now  before  you,  that  you,  remembering 
all  this  agony  and  shame,  may  make  of  it  a  crown  of  glory 
ennobling  your  manhood  —  that  you,  forgetting  nothing, 
may  yet  put  vengeance  from  you  now  and  for  ever  and 
strive  to  forgive  —  to  forgive,  Martin,  and  win  thereby 
your  manhood  and  a  happiness  undreamed  —  "  here  she 
stopped,  her  bosom  heaving,  her  eyes  all  tender  pleading; 
and  I  (oh,  deaf  and  purblind  fool!)  hearing,  heard  not, 
and  seeing,  saw  nought  but  the  witching  beauty  of  her. 
And  now,  having  her  hands  in  mine,  beholding  her  so  near, 
I  loosed  her  hands  and  turned  away  lest  I  should  crush 
her  to  me. 

"  'T  is  impossible ! "  I  muttered.  "  I  am  a  man  and  no 
angel  —  't  is  impossible !  " 

Hereupon  she  arose  and  stood  some  while  looking  down 
into  the  fire  and  never  a  word ;  suddenly,  she  turned  as  to 
leave  me,  then,  sitting  on  her  stool,  drew  out  her  hairpins 
and  shook  down  her  shining  hair  that  showed  bronze-red 
where  the  light  caught  it.  And  beholding  her  thus,  her 
lovely  face  offset  by  the  curtain  of  her  hair,  her  deep, 
long-lashed  eyes,  the  vivid  scarlet  of  her  mouth,  I  knew 
the  world  might  nowhere  show  me  a  maid  so  perfect  in 
beauty  nor  so  vitally  a  woman. 

**  Martin !  "  said  she  very  softly,  as  she  began  braiding 
a  thick  tress  of  hair,  "have  you  ever  truly  loved  any 
woman?  " 

"  No,"  said  I.    «  No ! » 

"Could  you  so  love,  I  wonder?" 

"No!"  said  I  again  and  clenching  my  hands,  "no  — 
never ! " 

"Why,   true,"    said   she  more   softly.      "Methinks    in 


284    Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

your  heart  is  no  room  for  poor  Love ;  't  is  so  over- full  of 
hate,  and  hate  is  a  disease  incurable  with  you.  Is  't  not 
so,  Martin?  " 

"  Yes  —  no !    Nay,  how  should  I  know?  "  quoth  I. 

*'Yet  should  love  befaU  you  upon  a  day,  'twould  be 
love  unworthy  any  good  woman,  Martin ! " 

"Why,  then,"  said  I,  "God  keep  me  from  the  folly 
of  love." 

"  Pray  rather  that  Love,  of  its  infinite  wisdom,  teach 
you  the  folly  of  hate,  Martin ! " 

"'Tis  a  truth!"  said  I  bitterly,  "a  truth  that  hath 
become  part  of  me!  It  hath  been  my  companion  in  soli- 
tude, my  comfort  in  my  shameful  misery,  my  hope,  my 
very  life,  or  I  had  died  else!  And  now  —  now  you  bid  me 
forget  it  —  as  't  were  some  mere  whimsy,  some  idle  fancy 
—  this  thought  that  hath  made  me  strong  to  endure  such 
shames  and  tribulations  as  few  have  been  forced  to  suffer ! " 

*'  Aye,  I  do,  I  do !  "  she  cried.  "  For  your  own  sake, 
Martin,  and  for  mine." 

"No!"  quoth  I.  "A  thousand  times!  This  thought 
hath  been  life  to  me,  and  only  with  life  may  I  forego  it ! " 

At  this,  the  busy  fingers  faltered  in  their  pretty  labour, 
and,  bowing  her  head  upon  her  hand,  she  sat,  her  face 
hid  from  me,  until  I,  not  doubting  that  she  wept,  grew 
uneasy  and  questioned  her  at  last. 

"Nay,  my  lady  —  since  this  must  be  so — wherefore 
grieve." 

"Grieve?"  says  she,  lifting  her  head,  and  I  saw  her 
eyes  all  radiant  and  her  red  lips  up-curving  in  a  smile. 
*'  Nay,  Martin,  I  do  marvel  how  eloquent  you  grow  upon 
your  wrongs ;  indeed,  't  is  as  though  you  feared  you  might 
forget  them.  Thus  do  you  spur  up  slothful  memory  which 
giveth  me  sure  hope  that  one  day  'twill  sleep  to  wake  no 
more." 

And  now,  or  ever  I  might  find  answer,  she  rose  and 
giving  me  "Good  night"  was  gone,  singing,  to  her  bed; 
and  I  full  of  bewilderment.  But  suddenly  as  I  sat  thus, 
staring  into  the  dying  fire,  she  was  back  again. 


Resolute  in  My  Folly         285 

"  What  now?  "  I  questioned. 

"  Our  goat,  Martin !  I  may  not  sleep  until  I  know  her 
safe  —  come,  let  us  go  look !  "  and  speaking,  she  reached 
me  her  hand.  So  I  arose  and  thus  with  her  soft,  warm 
fingers  in  mine  we  went  amid  the  shadows  where  I  had 
tethered  the  goat  to  a  tree  hard  beside  the  murmurous  rill 
and  found  the  animal  lying  secure  and  placidly  enough, 
the  kid  beside  her.  The  which  sight  seemed  to  please  my 
lady  mightily. 

"  But  't  is  shame  the  poor  mother  should  go  tied  always 
thus.  Could  you  not  make  a  picket  fence,  Martin.''  And 
she  should  have  some  refuge  against  the  storms,"  to  the 
which  I  agreed.  Thus  as  we  went  back,  we  fell  to  making 
plans,  one  project  begetting  another,  and  we  very  blithe 
about  it. 


CHAPTER   XXIX 
How  My  Dear  Lady  Was  Lost  to  Me 

And  now  followed  a  season  of  much  hard  work,  each  day 
bringing  its  varied  tasks  and  we  right  joyous  in  our 
labour,  so  that  ofttimes  I  would  hear  her  singing  away 
in  her  sweet  voice  merry  as  any  grig,  or  find  myself 
whistling  lustily  to  the  tap  of  my  hammer.  And  now 
indeed  my  saw  (and  all  rusty  though  it  was)  served  me 
faithfully  and  well  and  my  carpentry  went  forward  apace. 
During  this  time  also  we  added  four  goats  and  six  kids 
to  our  flock  so  that  we  had  good  store  of  milk,  and  having, 
with  my  lady's  help,  made  our  net  with  strands  of  cord 
knotted  crosswise,  we  caught  therewith  great  plenty  of 
fish. 

Remembering  my  adventure  with  the  Indian  I  furnished 
myself  with  a  good  stout  pike  and  a  couple  of  javelins; 
moreover,  I  set  up  divers  marks,  like  rovers,  and  every  day 
I  would  shoot  at  these  with  my  bow  so  that  I  soon  became 
so  dexterous  I  could  bring  down  a  bird  on  the  wing  six 
times  out  of  seven,  though  in  teaching  myself  this  profi- 
ciency I  lost  four  of  my  Indian  arrows  beyond  recovery. 

Thus  sped  the  time  all  too  quickly,  but  with  each  day 
came  a  greater  understanding  and  a  deeper  amity  betwixt 
my  lady  and  me. 

Now  much  and  very  much  might  I  set  down  here  con- 
cerning this  my  sweet  comrade  her  many  noble  qualities, 
and  how,  as  our  fellowship  lengthened,  I  (that  was  a  man 
selfish  beyond  thought),  finding  her  unselfish  always  and 
uncomplaining,  seeing  her  so  brave  in  the  face  of  adver- 
sity, and  indomitable  to  overcome  all  difficulty,  yet  ever 
and  always  a  woman  gracious  and  tender,  I,  by  my  very 


How  My  Dear  Lady  was  Lost    287 

reverence  for  her  sweet  womanhpod,  became  in  some  sense 
a  better  man. 

I  might  tell  how,  when  my  black  moods  took  me,  the 
mere  sight  of  her,  the  sound  of  her  voice,  the  touch  of  her 
hand,  nay  her  very  nearness  was  enough  to  dispel  them. 

I  might  paint  to  your  imagination  the  way  her  hair 
curled  at  her  temples,  the  trick  she  had  of  biting  her 
nether  lip  when  at  all  put  out,  or  the  jut  of  her  pretty 
chin  when  angered.  Then  the  sweet,  vibrant  softness  of 
her  voice,  her  laughter,  the  wonder  of  her  changing  moods, 
all  these  I  would  dilate  upon  if  I  might,  since  'tis  joy  to 
me,  but  lest  I  prove  wearisome  I  will  hasten  on  to  the 
finding  of  Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure,  of  all  that  led  up 
to  it  and  all  those  evils  that  followed  after  it.  And  this 
bringeth  me  to  a  time  whenas  we  sat,  she  and  I,  eating  our 
breakfast  and  the  world  all  radiant  with  a  young  sun. 

"  To-night,"  said  she,  "  if  my  calculations  be  right, 
should  be  a  new  moon.  And  I  am  glad,  for  I  do  love  the 
moon." 

"Aye,  but  how  should  you  judge  this.'"'  said  I,  won- 
dering. 

"  Because  I  have  kept  a  record,  Martin.  A  stroke  for 
each  day  and  a  cross  for  every  Sunday." 

"  Excellent !  "  quoth  I.  "  Then  you  will  know  how  long 
we  have  lived  here.'"' 

"  Two  months  and  five  days,  Martin." 

"So  long  a  time.'"'  said  I,  amazed. 

*'  Hath  it  seemed  so  very  long.'*  "  she  questioned. 

*'  No  indeed !     No,  and  there  's  the  marvel ! " 

"  'T  is  no  marvel,  Martin ;  you  have  been  too  full  of 
business  to  heed  time.  Let  us  reckon  up  what  we  have 
achieved  thus  far.  First  of  all  a  three-legged  stool  for 
me  —  " 

"  Hairpins  ! "   said  I. 

"A  spoon,  Martin,  and  shoes  for  me  — " 

"  Lamps  and  candles  !  "  quoth  I. 

"A  table,  Martin  —  " 

**  A  fishing  line  and  two  hooks  —  " 


2  88     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

*'  Two  armchairs,  Martin,  a  cupboard  and  a  press." 

"A  churn!" 

*'  You  are  forgetting  our  five  pipkins,  Martin." 

*'  True,"  said  I,  "  and  clumsy  things  they  are !  " 

"  But  very  useful,  sir !  Next  a  fishing-net,  and  a  bed  for 
me  —  Here  is  fine  achievement,  Martin!  Are  you  not 
proud  to  have  wrought  so  much  and  with  so  little?  " 

"  But  there  is  much  yet  to  do !  "  quoth  I. 

"  So  much  the  better  I  "  said  she.  "  Thus  far  I  am  well 
content  —  "  , 

"And  happy?"  I  demanded.  | 

**  Aye,  Martin  —  are  you  ?  " 

Now  at  this  I  fell  to  profound  reverie  and  she  also,  and 
this  the  subject  of  my  musing;  viz: 

In  every  man  and  woman  bom  into  this  world  (  as  it  doth 
seem  to  me)  God  putteth  some  of  His  infinite  self  whereby 
all  things  are  possible  in  degree  greater  or  smaller ;  for  to 
the  God  within  us  all  things  are  possible,  't  is  our  very 
humanity  that  limits  our  potentialities.  Confidence  in  this 
power  within  us  is  a  mighty  aid  to  all  endeavour  whereby 
we,  our  coward  flesh  notwithstanding,  may  attempt  great 
things  and  though,  being  human,  we  ofttimes  fail,  yet  this 
very  eflFort  strengthens  and  ennobles  us. 

"Who  art  thou,"  cries  Flesh,  "to  adventure  thing  so 
great  and  above  thy  puny  strength  to  perform.  Who 
art  thou?"  "I  am  God!"  answers  Man-soul,  "since 
finite  man  am  I  only  by  reason  of  thee,  base,  coward 
Flesh."  Thus  (to  my  thinking)  in  every  man  is  angel 
and  daemon,  each  striving  'gainst  each  for  the  soul  of 
him;  whereby  he  doeth  evil  or  good  according  to  the 
which  of  these  twain  he  aideth  to  victory.  Howbeit,  thus 
is  it  with  me,  I  being,  despite  my  seeming  slowness,  of  quick 
and  passionate  temper  and  of  such  desperate  determina- 
tion that  once  set  on  a  course  needs  would  I  pursue  it, 
though  it  led  to  my  own  confounding  and  destruction. 
For  now,  indeed,  I  wrought  that  which  brought  on  my  lady 
great  sorrow  and  grievous  peril,  and  on  myself  shame, 
bloodshed  and  a  black  despair,  and  this  the  manner  of  it. 


How  My  Dear  Lady  was  Lost   289 

"  Are  you  not  happy,  Martin  ?  "  said  she.  "  Happy 
and  proud  to  have  accomplished  so  much  with  so  little?" 

"  No ! "  said  I,  and  so  bitterly-fierce  that  she  blenched 
from  me.  "  For  look  now,"  said  I,  clenching  my  fist, 
"  here  have  we  wrought  and  slaved  together  day  in  and  day 
out  —  and  to  what  end.''  " 

"  That  we  may  live  —  to  our  comfort  —  "  answered  she 
a  little  breathlessly. 

**  And  to  what  end  ?  "  I  demanded.  "  To  what  purpose 
have  you  cozened  me  to  labour  thus  ?  " 

"I?  I  don't  understand  you,  Martin!"  said  she  un- 
steadily. 

"  Here 's  you  cast  alone  with  me  on  this  island.  *  He  is 
a  man,'  says  you  to  yourself,  '  and  I  a  lonely  woman.  So 
must  I  keep  him  busy,  his  mind  ever  employed  on  some 
labour,  no  matter  what,  lest  peradventure  he  make  love 
to  me  —  '" 

"  Stop ! "  cried  she  angrily,  leaping  up  to  her  feet  all 
in  a  moment.  "  For  shame,  Martin  Conisby !  You  wrong 
me  and  yourself  —  I  am  your  comrade  —  " 

*'  Nay,  you  are  a  woman,  very  subtle,  and  quick-witted 
as  you  are  beautiful.  So  have  you  keep  me  in  ploy  thus, 
yearning  meanwhile  for  some  ship  —  anything  to  bear 
you  safe  away  from  me !  Often  have  I  seen  you  staring 
seaward  and  praying  for  a  sail  —  " 

"  Oh,  you  lie,  Martin,  you  lie !  Ah,  have  I  not  trusted 
you  —  ?  " 

"  Aye,  as  one  might  a  tiger,  by  humouring  me  and  dis- 
tracting my  attention!  All  these  weeks  I  have  scarce 
touched  you  and  kissed  you  never,  nor  had  I  thought  to  — 
but  now,  by  God  —  " 

"  Martin  —  Oh,  Martin,  what  would  you  —  ?  " 

"  Kiss  you  !  "   said  I  savagely,  and  caught  her  wrists. 

"Nay,  that  you  shall  never  do  —  with  that  look  on  your 
face ! "  cried  she  and  twisted  so  strongly  as  nigh  broke 
my  hold;  but  despite  all  her  desperate  striving,  struggle 
how  she  might,  I  dragged  her  to  me,  pinning  her  arms  in 
my  cruel  embrace;  but  still  she  withstood  me  and  with 


290      Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

such  fury  of  strength  that  twice  we  staggered  and  came 
near  falling,  until  all  at  once  she  yielded  and  lay  all  soft, 
her  breath  coming  in  little,  pitiful,  panting  groans.  So  I 
kissed  her  as  I  would,  her  hair,  her  eyes,  her  parted  lips, 
her  cool  soft  throat,  until  sun  and  trees  and  green  grass 
seemed  to  spin  and  whirl  dizzily  about  me,  until  my  lips 
were  wet  with  her  salt  tears. 

"  Oh,  God  —  Oh,  God !  "  she  whispered.  "  Oh,  Martin, 
that  I  trusted  so;  will  you  kill  my  faith  and  trust?  Will 
you  shame  your  comrade.''    You  that  I  loved  —  " 

"  Loved !  "  said  I,  catching  my  breath  and  staring  down 
at  her  tear-wet  lashes.     "Loved  me  —  oh,  Damaris —  !" 

"Aye,  loved  and  honoured  you  above  all  men  until  the 
beast  broke  loose  —  " 

"  And  now  ?  "  cried  I  hoarsely.  "  And  now  —  what .'' 
Speak?" 

"God's  pity  —  loose  me,  Martin!" 

"  And  what  now  —  tell  me.  Is  't  hate  now,  scorn  and 
contempt  —  as  't  was  aboard  ship  ?  " 

"  Oh,  Martin  —  let  me  go  !  "   she  sobbed. 

"Answer  me;  is  it  hate  henceforth?" 

*'  Yes !  "  she  panted.  "  Yes  !  "  and  tore  herself  from  my 
hold.  But,  as  she  turned  to  fly  me,  I  caught  her  back  to 
me  and,  madman  that  I  was,  bent  her  backward  across  my 
knee  that  I  might  look  down  into  her  eyes ;  and,  meeting 
my  look,  she  folded  her  hands  upon  her  bosom  and,  closing 
her  eyes,  spoke  broken  and  humbled: 

"Take  —  take  your  will  of  me  —  Black  Bartlemy  —  I 
am  not  brave  enough  to  stab  you  as  —  she  did  —  " 

Now  at  this  I  shivered  and  must  needs  cast  my  gaze 
towards  that  great  pimento  tree  that  towered  afar  off. 
So  then  my  hateful  dream  had  come  true,  and  now  I  knew 
myself  for  black  a  rogue  as  ever  Bartlemy  had  been.  So 
I  loosed  her  and,  starting  up,  stood  staring  across  the 
desolation  of  ocean. 

"  Oh,  Damaris,"  said  I  at  last,  "  here  in  my  belt  was 
my  knife  to  your  hand;  'twere  better  you  had  stabbed 
me  indeed  and  I,  dying,  would  have  kissed  your  feet  after 


\ 


How  My  Dear  Lady  was  Lost    291 

the  manner  of  yon  dead  rogue.  As  it  is  I  must  live  hating 
myself  for  having  destroyed  the  best,  the  sweetest  thing 
life  could  offer  me  and  that,  your  trust.  But  oh,  my 
lady,"  said  I,  looking  down  where  she  knelt,  her  face 
bowed  upon  her  hands,  "  I  do  love  you  reverently  and  be- 
yond my  life." 

"  Even  greatly  enough  to  forego  your  vengeance !  "  she 
questioned  softly  and  without  glancing  up. 

"  God  help  me !  "  cried  I.  "  How  may  I  forget  the  oath 
I  swore  on  my  father's  grave .'' " 

"  You  broke  your  oath  to  me ! "  said  she,  never  stir- 
ring. "  So  do  I  know  that  true  love  hath  not  touched 
you," 

"  Think  of  me  as  you  will,"  quoth  I,  "  but  —  " 

"  I  know ! "  said  she,  raising  her  head  at  last  and  look- 
ing up  at  me,  "  I  am  sure,  Martin.  Where  hate  is,  true 
love  can  never  be,  and  love,  howsoever  vehement,  is  gentle 
and  reverent  and  being  of  God,  a  very  holy  thing!  But 
you  have  made  of  it  a  thing  of  passion,  merciless  and 
cruel ;  't  is  love  debased  —  " 

"  So  will  I  get  me  hence,"  said  I.  "  For  since  I  have 
destroyed  your  faith,  how  shall  you  ever  sleep  again  and 
know  yourself  secure  and  such  rogue  as  I  near  you. 
I  '11  go,  Damaris ;  I  '11  away  and  take  your  fears  along 
with  me."  ^ 

Then,  the  while  she  watched  me  dumbly,  I  slung  my 
bow  and  quiver  of  arrows  about  me,  set  the  hatchet  in 
my  girdle  and,  taking  my  pike,  turned  to  go ;  but,  check- 
ing my  haste,  went  into  the  cave  (she  following  me  silent 
always)  and,  taking  the  pistol  from  where  it  hung,  ex- 
amined flint  and  priming  and  charge  and  laid  it  on  the 
table. 

"  Should  you  need  me  at  any  time,  shoot  off  this  pistol, 
and  I  will  come,"  said  I,  "  so  —  good-by,  my  lady ! " 
But  scarce  was  I  without  the  cave  than  she  came  to  me 
with  my  chain  shirt  in  her  hands  and,  when  I  would  have 
none  of  it,  grew  the  more  insistent. 

"Put  it  on,"    urged  she  gently;    "who  can  tell  what 


292      Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

may  befall  you ;  so  put  It  on,  I  pray ! "  Thus  in  the  end 
I  donned  it,  though  with  ill  grace ;  which  done,  I  took  my 
pike  across  my  shoulder  and  strode  away.  And  when  I 
had  gone  some  distance,  I  glanced  back  and  saw  her  stand- 
ing where  I  had  left  her,  watching  me  and  with  her  hands 
clasped  tight  together. 

"  Good-by,  Martin !  "  said  she.  "  Oh,  good-by !  "  and 
vanished  into  the  gloom  of  the  cave. 

As  for  me  I  strode  on  at  speed  and  careless  of  direc- 
tion, for  my  mind  was  a  whirl  of  conflicting  thoughts 
and  a  bitter  rage  against  myself.  Thus  went  I  a  goodish 
while  and  all  unheeding  and  so  at  last  found  myself  lost 
amidst  mazy  thickets  and  my  eight-foot  pike  very  trouble- 
some. Howbeit  I  presently  gained  more  open  ways  and 
went  at  speed,  though  whither  I  cared  not.  The  sun  was 
westering,  when,  coming  out  from  the  denser  woods,  I 
saw  before  me  that  high  hill  whose  rocky  summit  domi- 
nated the  island,  and  bent  my  steps  thitherward ;  and  then 
all  in  a  moment  my  heart  gave  a  great  leap  and  I  stood 
still,  for  borne  to  me  on  the  soft  air  came  a  sudden, 
sharp  sound  and  though  faint  with  distance  I  knew  it  for 
the  report  of  a  firearm.  At  this  thrice-blessed  sound 
an  overwhelming  great  joy  and  gratitude  surged  within 
me,  since  thus,  of  her  infinite  mercy,  my  lady  had  sum- 
moned me  back;  and  now  as  I  retraced  my  steps  full  of 
thankfulness,  I  marvelled  to  find  my  eyes  a-watering  and 
myself  all  trembling  eagerness  to  behold  her  loveliness 
again,  to  hear  her  voice,  mayhap  to  touch  her  hand; 
indeed  I  felt  as  we  had  been  parted  a  year  rather  than 
a  brief  hour.  And  now  I  got  me  to  dreaming  how  I 
should  meet  her  and  how  she  would  greet  me.  She  should 
find  a  new  Martin,  I  told  myself. 

Suddenly  these  deluding  dreams  were  shivered  to  hor- 
rible fear  and  myself  brought,  sweating,  to  a  standstill 
by  another  sound  that  smote  me  like  a  blow,  for  I  knew 
this  for  the  deep-toned  report  of  a  musket.  For  a  momenF 
I  stood  leaning  on  my  pike  as  one  dazed,  then  the  hateful 
truth  of  it  seized  me,  and  I  began  to  run  like  any  mad- 


How  My  Dear  Lady  was  Lost    293 

man.  Headlong  I  went,  bursting  my  way  through  tan- 
gled vines  and  undergrowth,  heedless  of  the  thorns  that 
gashed  me,  cursing  such  obstacles  as  stayed  me;  now 
o'erleaping  thorny  tangles,  now  pausing  to  beat  me  a 
way  with  my  pikestajff,  running  at  breathless  speed  when- 
ever I  might  until  (having  taken  a  wrong  direction  in 
my  frenzy)  I  came  out  amid  those  vines  and  bushes  that 
bordered  the  lake  of  the  waterfall  and  right  over  against 
the  great  rock  I  have  mentioned.  But  from  where  I 
was  (the  place  being  high)  I  could  see  over  and  beyond^ 
this  rock;  and  as  I  stood  panting  and  well-nigh  spent, 
mighty  distraught  and  my  gaze  bent  thitherward,  I  shiv- 
ered (despite  the  sweat  that  streamed  from  me)  with 
sudden  awful  chill,  for  from  those  greeny  depths  I  heard  a 
scream,  wild  and  heart-rending,  and,  knowing  this  voice, 
grew  sick  and  faint  and  sank  weakly  to  my  knees.  And 
now  I  heard  vile  laughter,  then  hoarse  shouts  and  forth 
of  the  underbrush  opposite  broke  a  wild,  piteous  figure, 
all  rent  and  torn,  yet  running  very  fleetly.  As  I  watched, 
cursing  my  helplessness,  she  tripped  and  fell  but  was  up 
again  all  in  a  moment,  yet  too  late,  for  then  I  saw  her 
struggling  in  the  clasp  of  a  ragged,  black-bearded  fel- 
low and  with  divers  other  men  running  towards  them. 

And  now  madness  seized  me  indeed,  for  between  us  was 
the  lake,  and,  though  my  bow  was  strung  and  ready,  I 
dared  not  shoot  lest  I  harm  her.  Thus  as  I  watched  in 
an  agony  at  my  impotence,  my  lady  broke  her  captor's 
hold  and  came  running,  and  he  and  his  fellows  hard  after 
her.  Straight  for  the  rock  she  came  and  being  there 
stood  a  moment  to  stare  about  her  like  the  piteous, 
hunted  creature  she  was : 

"  Martin  !  "  she  cried.  "  Oh,  Martin ! "  And  uttering 
this  dolorous  cry  (and  or  ever  I  might  answer)  she  tossed 
Iv^ild  arms  to  heaven  and  plunged  over  and  down.  I  saw 
her  body  strike  the  water  in  a  clean  dive  and  vanish 
into  those  dark  and  troubled  deeps,  and,  with  breath  in 
check  and  glaring  eyes,  waited  for  her  to  reappear;  I 
heard  vague  shouts  and  cries  where  her  pursuers  watched 


2  94-    Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

for  her  likewise,  but  I  heeded  them  nothing,  staring  ever 
and  waiting  —  waiting.  But  these  gloomy  waters  gave 
no  sign,  and  so  at  last  my  breath  burst  from  me  in  a 
bitter,  sobbing  groan.  One  by  one  the  minutes  dragged 
by  until  I  thought  my  brain  must  crack,  for  nowhere  was 
sign  of  that  beloved  shape.  And  then  —  all  at  once  — 
I  knew  she  must  be  dead;  this  sweet  innocent  slain  thus 
before  my  eyes,  snatched  out  of  life  and  lost  to  me  for 
aU  time,  lost  to  me  beyond  recovery. 

At  last  I  turned  my  haggard,  burning  eyes  upon  her 
murderers ;  four  of  them  there  were  and  all  staring  into 
those  cruel,  black  waters  below  and  not  a  word  betwixt 
them.  Suddenly  the  black-bearded  man  snapped  his 
fingers  and  laughed  even  as  my  bowstring  twanged;  then 
I  saw  him  leap  backwards,  screaming  with  pain,  his 
shoulder  transfixed  by  my  arrow.  Immediately  (and  ere 
I  might  shoot  again)  his  fellows  dragged  him  down  and 
lying  prone  on  their  bellies  let  fly  wildly  in  my  direction 
with  petronel  and  musquetoon.  And  now,  had  I  been 
near  enough,  I  would  have  leaped  upon  them  to  slay  and 
be  slain,  since  life  was  become  a  hateful  thing.  As  it  was, 
crouched  there  'mid  the  leaves,  I  watched  them  crawl 
from  the  rock,  dragging  their  hurt  comrade  with  them. 
Then,  seeing  them  stealing  off  thus,  a  mighty  rage  filled 
me,  ousting  all  other  emotion,  and  (my  bow  in  one  hand 
and  pike  in  the  other)  I  started  running  in  pursuit.  But 
my  great  pike  proving  over-cumbersome,  I  cast  it  away 
that  I  might  go  the  faster,  trusting  rather  to  my  five 
arrows  and  the  long-bladed  knife  in  my  girdle;  and  the 
thought  of  this  knife  and  its  deadly  work  at  close  quar- 
ters heartened  me  mightily  as  I  ran;  yet  in  a  while,  the 
passion  of  my  anger  subsiding,  grief  took  its  place  again 
and  a  hopeless  desolation  beyond  words.  So  ran  I, 
blinded  by  scalding  tears  and  my  heart  breaking  within 
me,  and  thus  came  I  to  a  place  of  rocks  and,  looking  not 
to  my  feet,  it  chanced  that  I  fell  and,  striking  my  head 
against  a  rock,  knew  no  more ;  and,  lost  in  a  blessed  uncon- 
sQJousness,  forgot  the  anguish  of  my  breaking  heart. 


How  My  Dear  Lady  was  Lost    295 

When  at  last  I  opened  my  eyes  I  found  myself  in  a 
place  of  gloom  and  very  stiff  and  sore;  therefore  I  lay 
where  I  was  nor  sought  to  move.  Little  by  little  as  I 
lay  thus  'twixt  sleep  and  wake,  I  was  aware  of  a  pallid 
glow  all  about  me  and  lifting  heavy  head,  saw  the  moon 
low  down  in  the  sky  like  a  great  golden  sickle.  And 
staring  up  at  this,  of  a  sudden  back  rushed  memory  (and 
with  it  my  hopeless  misery)  for  now  I  remembered  how, 
but  a  few  short  hours  since,  my  dear  lady  had  prophesied 
this  new  moon.  Hereupon,  crouching  there,  my  aching 
head  bowed  upon  my  hands,  I  gave  myself  up  to  my 
despair  and  a  corroding  grief  beyond  all  comforting. 

From  where  I  crouched  I  might  look  down  upon  this 
accursed  lake,  a  misty  horror  of  gloomy  waters  and,  be- 
holding this,  I  knew  that  my  gentle,  patient  comrade  was 
gone  from  me,  that  somewhere  within  those  black  and 
awful  depths  her  tender  body  was  lying.  She  was  dead, 
her  sweet  voice  for  ever  hushed,  she  that  had  been  so  vitally 
alive !  And  remembering  all  her  pretty  ways  I  grew 
suddenly  all  blind  with  tears  and,  casting  myself  down, 
lay  a  great  while  sobbing  and  groaning  until  I  could  weep 
no  more. 

At  last,  sitting  up,  I  wondered  to  find  my  head  so  pain- 
ful and  putting  up  my  hand  found  my  face  all  wet  and 
sticky  with  blood  that  flowed  from  a  gash  in  my  hair. 
And  remembering  how  I  had  fallen  and  the  reason  of  my 
haste,  I  started  up  and  forthwith  began  seeking  my  knife 
and  hatchet,  and  presently  found  them,  hard  by  where  I 
had  tripped.  Now  standing  thus,  knife  in  one  hand  and 
hatchet  in  the  other,  I  turned  to  look  down  upon  these 
dark  and  evil  waters. 

"  Good-by,  my  lady ! "  said  I.  *'  Fare  thee  well,  sweet 
comrade !  Before  to-morrow  dawn  we  will  meet  again,  I 
pray,  and  shalt  know  me  for  truer  man  and  better  than 
I  seemed ! "  So,  turning  my  back  on  the  lake,  I  went  to 
seek  my  vengeance  on  her  destroyers  and  death  at  their 
hands,  and  it  might  be  so. 

In  a  while  I  came  to  that  torrent  where  the  water 


296     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

flowed  out  from  the  lake,  its  bed  strewn  with  tumbled 
rocks  and  easy  enough  to  cross,  the  water  being  less 
in  volume  by  reason  of  the  dry  weather.  All  at  once 
I  stopped,  for  amid  these  rocks  and  boulders  I  saw 
caught  aU  manner  of  drift,  as  sticks  and  bushes,  branches 
and  the  like,  washed  down  by  the  current  and  which, 
all  tangled  and  twisted  together,  choked  this  narrow 
defile,  forming  a  kind  of  barrier  against  the  current. 
Now  as  I  gazed  at  this,  my  eyes  (as  if  directed  by  the 
finger  of  God)  beheld  something  caught  in  this  barrier, 
something  small  and  piteous  to  see  but  which  set  me  all 
a-trembling  and  sent  me  clambering  down  these  rocks; 
and  reaching  out  shaking  hand  I  took  up  that  same  three- 
pronged  pin  I  had  carved  and  wrought  for  her  hair.  Thus 
stood  I  to  view  this  through  my  blinding  tears  and  to 
kiss  and  kiss  it  many  times  over,  because  it  had  known 
her  better  than  I.  But  all  at  once  I  thrust  this  precious 
relic  into  my  bosom  and  stared  about  me  with  new  and 
awful  expectation,  for  the  current  which  brought  this 
should  bring  more.  So  I  began  to  seek  among  these  rocks 
where  the  stream  ran  fast  and  in  each  pool  and  shallow, 
and  once,  sweating  and  shivering,  stooped  to  peer  down 
at  something  that  gleamed  white  from  a  watery  hollow 
and  gasped  my  relief  to  find  it  was  no  more  than  a  stone. 
None  the  less  sought  I  with  a  prayer  on  my  lips,  dread- 
ing to  find  that  white  and  tender  body  mangled  by  the 
cruel  rocks,  yet  searching  feverishly  none  the  less.  Long 
I  stayed  there,  until  the  moon,  high-risen,  sent  down  her 
tender  beam  as  though  to  aid  me.  But  of  this  time  I  wiU 
write  no  more,  since  even  now  it  is  a  misery  to  recall. 

At  last,  I  (that  knew  myself  a  man  about  to  die) 
turned  me  towards  our  habitation,  those  rocks  she  had 
called  "  home,"  and  reaching  the  plateau  I  stood  still, 
swept  alternately  by  grief  and  passion,  to  see  this  our 
refuge  all  desecrate  by  vile  hands,  our  poor  furniture 
scattered  without  the  cave.  And  presently  I  espied  her 
three-legged  stool  standing  where  she  had  been  wont  to 
sit  to  watch  and  cheer  me  at  my  labour ;  coming  thither  I 


How  My  Dear  Lady  was  Lost    297 

fell  on  ray  knees  and  laying  my  head  thereon  wetted  this 

unlovely  thing  with  my  tears  and  kissed  it  many  times. 

And  as  I  lay  thus,  much  that  she  had  done  and  said 

(little  things  forgot  till  now)  rushed  upon  my  memory; 

her  sweet,  calm  presence  seemed  all  about  me,  soothing 

away  the  passion  of  my  grief.    And  in  this  hour  that  was 

to  end  my  miserable  life,  I  knew  at  last  that  I  had  loved 

her  purely  and  truly  from  the  first  and  with  such  love  as 

might  have  lifted  me  to  heaven.     And  kneeling  thus,  I 

spake  aloud  to  this  her  sweet  presence  that  seemed  to 

hover  about  me: 

"  Oh,   Damaris,   beloved  —  as   thou,   to    'scape   shame, 

hast  chosen  death  —  in  death  I  '11  follow  thee  —  trusting 

to  a  merciful  God  that  I  may  find  thee  again ! "     Then 

uprising  from  my  knees,  I  came  out  from  the  shadows  and, 

standing  in  the  moon's  radiance,  looked  heedfully  to  the 

edge  of  my  axe,  and  with  it  gripped  in  my  hand,  went  out 

to  find  death. 

\ 


y 


CHAPTER   XXX 

How  I  Sought  Death  but  Found  It  Not 

Beyond  Deliverance  Sands  I  saw  the  glow  of  their  fire  and 
drawing  thither  knew  them  camped  in  the  shadow  of  that 
great  pimento  tree  and  within  that  rocky  gorge  the  which 
had  afforded  my  dear  lady  and  me  our  first  night's  shelter. 
Being  come  thither,  I  sat  me  down  and  took  counsel  how 
best  to  attack  them  that  I  might  slay  as  many  as  possible 
ere  they  gave  me  the  death  I  hungered  for ;  and  the  end  of 
it  was  I  began  to  scale  the  cliff,  my  goatskin  buskins 
soundless  and  very  sure  amid  the  rocks. 

As  I  mounted  I  heard  the  hoarse  murmur  of  their  voices 
and  knew  by  their  very  intonation  (since  I  could  hear  no 
words  as  yet)  that  they  were  speaking  English.  Reaching 
the  summit,  and  mighty  cautious,  I  came  where  I  might 
look  doAvn  into  the  cleft. 

They  sprawled  about  their  fire,  four  grim-looking  fel- 
lows, ragged  and  unkempt,  three  of  them  talking  together 
and  one  who  lay  groaning  ever  and  anon. 

"  Be  damned  t'  ye,  Joel,  for  a  lily-livered  dog ! "  growled 
a  great,  bony  fellow.  "  Here 's  good  an  island  as  man  can 
want  —  " 

"  And  full  o'  bloody  Indians  —  eh,  Humphrey  ?  "  says  a 
black- j  owled  fellow,  turning  on  the  wounded  man.  "  Us 
do  know  the  Indians,  don't  us,  Humphrey?  Inca,  Aztec, 
Mosquito  and  Cimaroon,  we  know  'em  and  their  devil's 
ways,  don't  us,  Humphrey?  " 

**  Aye  —  aye !  "  groaned  the  wounded  man.  "  They  tor- 
tured me  once,  and  they  've  done  for  me  at  last,  by  God ! 
My  shoulder 's  afire  —  " 

"And  the  shaft  as  took  ye,  Humphrey,  were  a  Indian 
shaft  —  a  Indian  shaft,  weren't  it,  lad?    And  all  trimmed 


How  I  Sought  Death  299 

wi*  gold,  aren't  it?  Here,  ye  may  see  for  yourselves! 
'Sequently  I  do  know  it  for  the  shaft  of  a  chief  or  cacique, 
and  where  a  cacique  is  there 's  Indians  wi'  him  —  oh,  thick 
as  thieves  —  I  know  and  Humphrey  knows !  I  say  this 
curst  island  be  full  of  Indians,  thick  as  fleas,  curse  'em! 
And  they  '11  have  us  soon  or  late  and  torment  us.  So  what 
I  says  is,  let 's  away  at  the  flood  and  stand  away  for  the 
Main  —  the  sea  may  be  bad  now  and  then,  but  Indians  be 
worse  —  always  and  ever !  " 

"  Why,  as  to  that,  Ned,  the  Indians  ha'  left  us  alone  —  " 

*'  Aye ! "  cried  the  bony  man.  "  And  what  o'  the  wench ; 
her  was  no  Indian,  I  lay  I  A  fine,  dainty  piece  she  was,  by 
hooky!  And  handsome,  ah  —  handsome!  But  for  Hum- 
phrey's bungling  —  " 

Here  the  man  Humphrey  groaned  and  cursed  the 
speaker  bitterly. 

"  Howbeit  —  't  was  a  Indian  arrer ! "  says  Ned.  "  And 
that  means  Indians,  and  Indians  means  death  to  all  on  us 
—  ask  Humphrey !     Death  —  eh,  Humphrey  ?  " 

"  Aye  —  death !  "  groaned  Humphrey.  "  Death 's  got 
his  grapples  aboard  me  now.  I  'm  a-dying  mates  —  dying ! 
Get  me  aboard ;  death  will  come  easier  in  open  water  —  " 

"  Why,  if  ye  must  die,  Humphrey,"  growled  the  bony 
man,  "die,  lad,  die  and  get  done  wi'  it,  the  sooner  the 
better.  As  to  Indians,  I  wait  till  I  see  'em,  and  as  for 
Death  —  " 

"  Death  ?  "  gasped  Humphrey.  *'  Here 's  for  you  first ! " 
And  whipping  out  a  knife,  he  made  a  fierce  thrust  at  the 
speaker;  but  the  others  closed  with  him.  Then  as  they 
strove  together,  panting  and  cursing,  I  rose  to  come  at 
them ;  but  the  wounded  man,  chancing  to  lift  his  head,  saw 
me  where  I  stood,  the  moonlight  on  my  bloody  face,  and 
uttered  a  hoarse  scream. 

"Death!"  cried  he.  " 'T  is  on  us,  mates  —  look,  look 
yonder !  Death  and  wounds  —  yonder  he  comes  for  all  of 
us  —  oh,  mates,  look  !    Yon  's  death —  for  all  on  us  !  " 

But  in  this  moment  I  leaped  down  upon  them  from 
above,   sending  one  man   sprawling  and  scattering  their 


^oo     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

fire,  and  'mid  whirling  sparks  and  smoke,  within  this  dim 
rock-cleft,  we  fought  with  a  merciless  fury  and  desperation 
beyond  words.  A  pistol  flashed  and  roared  and  then  an- 
other as  I  leapt  with  whirling  axe  and  darting  knife.  I 
remember  a  wild  hurly-burly  of  random  blows,  voices  that 
shouted  hoarse  blasphemies,  screams  and  groans,  a  whirl 
of  vicious  arms,  of  hands  that  clutched;  once  I  reeled  to 
hard-driven  sword-thrust,  a  knife  flashed  and  stabbed  be- 
neath my  arm,  but  twice  I  got  home  with  my  knife  and 
once  a  man  sobbed  and  went  down  beneath  my  hatchet  — 
and  then  they  were  running  and  I  after  them.  But  I  had 
taken  a  scathe  in  my  leg  and  twice  I  fell ;  thus  they  reached 
their  boat  with  some  hundred  yards  to  spare,  and  I  saw 
their  frantic  struggles  to  launch  it  as  I  staggered  after 
them;  but  ere  I  could  reach  them  they  had  it  afloat  and 
tumbled  aboard  pell-mell.  Then  came  I,  panting  curses, 
and  plunged  into  the  sea,  wading  after  them  up  to  my 
middle  and  so  near  that,  aiming  a  blow  at  one  of  them, 
I  cut  a  great  chip  from  the  gunwale;  but,  reeling  from 
the*  blow  of  an  oar,  sank  to  my  knees,  and  a  wave  break- 
ing over  me  bore  me  backward,  choking.  Thus  when 
I  foimd  my  feet  again  they  were  well  away  and  plying  their 
oars  lustily,  whiles  I,  roaring  and  shouting,  stood  to 
watch  them  until  the  boat  was  lost  in  the  distance.  Now 
as  I  stood  thus,  raging  bitterly  at  my  impotence,  I  be- 
thought me  that  I  had  seen  but  three  men  run  and,  turn- 
ing about,  hasted  back  to  deal  with  the  fourth.  Reaching 
the  scene  of  the  struggle,  I  came  on  the  man  Humphrey 
outstretched  upon  his  back  in  the  moonlight  and  his  face 
well-nigh  shorn  asunder.  Seeing  him  thus  so  horribly 
dead,  I  went  aside  and  fell  to  scrubbing  my  hatchet,  blade 
and  haft,  with  the  cleanly  sand. 

Then  came  I  and,  grasping  this  thing  had  been  named 
Humphrey,  I  dragged  it  a-down  the  sands  and  hove  it 
forthwith  into  the  sea,  standing  thereafter  to  watch  it 
borne  out  on  the  receding  tide.  Now,  as  I  watched  thus, 
came  a  wave  that  lifted  the  thing  so  that  this  dead  man 
seemed  to  rise  up  and  wave  an  arm  to  me  ere  he  vanished. 


How  I  Sought  Death  301 

This  done  (and  I  yet  alive!)  I  took  to  wandering  aim- 
lessly hither  and  thither  and  chancing  into  the  rocky  cleft 
found  lying  three  muskets  and  four  pistols  with  bando- 
liers full-charged,  together  with  a  knife  and  a  couple  of 
swords ;  these  I  set  orderly  together  and  so  wandered  away 
again. 

All  this  night  I  rambled  about  thus,  and  dawn  found  me 
seated  'neath  Bartlemy's  tree,  staring  at  the  ocean  yet 
seeing  it  not. 

So  God  had  refused  my  appeal !  It  seemed  I  could  not 
die.  And  presently,  chancing  to  look  down  at  myself  in 
the  growing  light,  I  understood  the  reason,  for  here  was 
I  armed  in  my  shirt  of  mail  (forgotten  till  now)  and 
scowling  down  at  this,  I  saw  its  fine,  steel  links  scratched 
and  scored  by  many  blows  and  bedaubed  here  and  there 
with  blood.  So  then  (thinks  I)  'twas  she  had  saved  me 
alive  and  in  thas  thought  found  me  some  small  solace. 
Hereupon  I  arose  and  went  down  to  the  sea,  limping  by 
reason  of  my  hurt  (an  ugly  gash  above  my  knee),  being 
minded  to  wash  from  me  the  grime  and  smears  that  fouled 
me.  But  or  ever  I  reached  the  water,  I  stopped,  for  there, 
more  hateful  in  sun  than  moonlight,  lay  that  ghastly  thing 
had  been  Humphrey.  There  he  lay,  cast  up  by  the  tide, 
and  now,  with  every  wave  that  broke,  he  stirred  gently 
and  moved  arms  and  legs  in  wanton,  silly  fashion,  nodding 
with  his  shattered  head  as  in  mockery  of  me.  So  I  went 
and,  seizing  hold  upon  the  thing,  swung  it  upon  my  back 
and,  thus  burdened,  climbed  out  upon  the  reef  (and  with 
mighty  trouble  for  my  strength  seemed  oozing  out  of  me). 
Reaching  a  place  at  last  where  the  water  ran  deep  I  paused 
and  with  sudden,  painful  effort  whirled  the  thing  above 
my  head  and  hove  it  far  out  where,  splashing,  it  fell  with 
sullen  plunge  and  vanished  from  my  sight.  But  even  so 
I  was  possessed  of  sudden,  uneasy  feeling  that  the  thing 
had  turned  on  me  and  was  swimming  back  to  shore,  so 
that,  drawing  my  knife,  I  must  needs  sit  there  a  while  to 
watch  if  this  were  so  indeed.  At  last  I  arose,  but  being 
come  to  Deliverance  Sands,  whirled  suddenly  about,  ex- 


302     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

pectant  to  behold  that  dead  thing  uprising  from  the  surge 
to  flap  derisive  arms  at  me.  And  this  did  I  many  times, 
being  haunted  thus  all  that  day,  and  for  many  weary  hours 
thereafter,  by  this  dead  man  Humphrey.  Presently  as  I 
went,  heedless  of  all  direction  and  the  sun  very  hot,  I 
began  to  stagger  in  my  gait  and  to  mutter  her  name  to 
myself  and  presently  to  shout  it,  until  the  cliifs  gave 
back  my  cries  and  the  hollow  caves  murmured,  "  Damaris ! 
Oh,  Damaris ! " 

And  now  was  a  mist  all  about  me  wherein  dim  forms 
moved  mocking  me,  and  ever  and  anon  methought  to  be- 
hold my  lady,  but  dim  and  very  far  removed  from  me  so 
that  sometimes  I  ran  and  ofttimes  I  fell  to  moaning  and 
shedding  weak  and  impotent  tears.  Truly  a  black  and 
evil  day  for  me  this,  whereof  I  have  but  a  vague  memory 
save  only  of  pain,  a  hopeless  weariness  and  intolerable 
thirst.  Thus  it  was  sunset  when  I  found  myself  once  more 
upon  that  grassy  plateau,  creeping  on  hands  and  knees, 
though  how  I  came  thither  I  knew  not.  I  remember  drink- 
ing from  the  little  rill  and  staggering  within  the  cave  there 
to  fall  and  lie,  filling  the  place  with  my  lamentations  and 
oft-repeated  cry  of  "  Damaris !  Oh,  Damaris ! "  I  re- 
member a  patch  of  silver  light,  a  radiance  that  crept 
across  the  gloom  and  of  dreaming  my  lady  beside  me  as 
of  old  and  of  babbling  of  love  and  forgiveness,  of  pain 
and  heartbreak,  whiles  I  watched  the  beam  of  light  creep- 
ing nigh  me  upon  the  floor.  Until,  sobbing  and  moaning, 
yet  gazing  ever  upon  this  light,  I  saw  grow  upon  it  a  sud- 
den dark  shape  that  moved,  heard  a  rustle  behind  me,  a 
footstep  —  a  cry!  And  knowing  this  for  the  man  Hum- 
phrey come  upon  me  at  last  in  my  weakness,  I  strove  to 
rise,  to  turn  and  face  him,  but  finding  this  vain,  cried  out 
upon  him  for  murderer.  "  'T  was  you  killed  her  —  my  love 
—  the  very  soul  of  me — 'twas  you,  Humphrey,  that  are 
dead  —  come,  that  I  may  slay  you  again !  "  Then  feeling 
his  hands  upon  me,  I  strove  to  draw  my  knife  but  could 
not  and  groaned,  and  so  knowledge  passed  from  me. 

My  next  memory  was   of  sun  and  a  dance   of  leafy 


How  I  Sought  Death  303 

shadows  on  the  wall  of  the  cave,  the  which  shadows  held 
my  attention  so  that  I  had  no  will  to  look  other  where; 
for  these  were  merry  shadows  that  leapt  in  sportive  gam- 
bols, that  danced  and  swayed,  pleasing  me  mightily.  And 
as  I  watched  these  antic  shadows  I  could  hear  the  pleasant 
murmur  of  the  little  rill  without  the  cave,  that  bubbled 
with  sweet,  soft  noises  like  small,  babbling  voices  that 
brake  ever  and  anon  into  elfin  laughter.  And  presently, 
mingled  with  this  pretty  babblement,  I  seemed  to  hear  a 
whisper : 

"  Martin !     Dear  Martin ! " 

And  now  I  saw  my  lady  plunge  to  death  from  the  rock 
and  started  up,  filling  the  place  with  my  lamentations, 
until  for  very  weakness  I  lay  hushed  and  heard  again  the 
soft  rippling  of  the  brook  and  therewith  her  voice  very 
sweet  and  faint  and  far  away: 

"Martin!     Dear  Martin!" 

I  remember  a  season  of  a  blackness  in  which  dim-seen, 
evil  things  menaced  me,  and  a  horror  of  dreams  wherein 
I,  fettered  and  fast  bound,  must  watch  my  sweet  lady 
struggle,  weeping,  in  the  arms  of  vile  rogues  whiles  I  strove 
desperately  to  break  my  bonds  and,  finding  this  vain,  fell 
to  raging  madness  and  dashed  myself  hither  and  thither  to 
slay  myself  and  end  my  torment.  Or,  axe  in  hand,  amid 
smoke  and  flame,  I  fell  upon  her  murderers ;  then  would 
I  smite  down  the  man  Humphrey  only  for  him  to  rise  to 
be  smitten  again  and  yet  again,  nodding  shattered  head 
and  flapping  nerveless  arms  in  derision  of  me  until,  know- 
ing I  might  never  slay  him  —  he  being  already  dead  — 
I  turned  to  flee  but  with  him  ever  behind  me  and  in  my  ears 
his  sobbing  cry  of  "  Death  for  all  of  us  —  death !  "  And 
feeling  his  hands  on  me,  I  would  fall  to  desperate  struggle 
until  the  blackness  closed  over  me  again,  thick  and  stifling 
like  a  sea. 

And  behind  all  these  horrors  was  a  haunting  knowledge 
that  I  was  going  mad,  that  this  man  Humphrey  was 
waiting  for  me  out  beyond  the  surf,  beckoning  to  me  with 
flapping  arms,  and  had  cast  on  me  a  spell  whereby,  as 


304     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

my  brain  shrivelled  to  madness,  my  body  was  shrivelling 
and  changing  into  that  of  Black  Bartlemy.  Always  I 
knew  that  Humphrey  waited  me  beyond  the  reef,  watchful 
for  my  coming  and  growing  ever  more  querulous  and 
eager  as  the  spell  wrought  on  me  so  that  he  began  to  call 
to  me  in  strange,  sobbing  voice,  hailing  me  by  my  new 
name. 

"Bartlemy,  ahoy!  Black  Bartlemy  —  Bartlemy,  ho! 
Come  your  ways  to  Humphrey,  that  being  dead  can  die 
no  more  and,  knowing  all,  doth  know  you  for  Bartlemy 
crept  back  from  hell.  So  come,  Bartlemy,  come  and  be 
as  I  am.  And  there's  others  here,  proper  lads  as  wants 
ye  too,  dead  men  all  —  by  the  rope,  by  the  knife,  by  the 
bullet  — oho!" 

There  be  two  at  the  fore 

At  the  main  be  three  more 

Dead  men  that  swing  all  of  a  row; 

Here  's  fine,  dainty  meat 

For  the  fishes  to  eat: 

Black  Bartlemy  —  Bartlemy,  ho!  ; 

There 's  a  fine,  Spanish  dame, 

Joanna 's  her  name. 

Must  follow  wherever  ye  go; 

Till  your  black  heart  shall  feel 

Your  own  cursed  steel; 

Black  Bartlemy  —  Bartlemy,  ho ! 

And  I,  hearkening  to  this  awful  sobbing  voice,  sweating 
and  shivering  in  the  dark,  knew  that,  since  I  was  indeed 
Black  Bartlemy,  sooner  or  later  I  must  go. 

Thus  it  befell  that  of  a  sudden  I  found  myself,  dazzled 
by  a  fierce  sun,  supporting  me  against  a  rock  and  my 
breath  coming  in  great  gasps.  And  in  a  while,  my  eyes 
growing  stronger,  I  stared  away  to  the  reef  where  this 
man  Humphrey  waited  me  with  his  dead  men  aU ;  and  since 
I  must  needs  go  there,  I  wept  because  it  was  so  far  off. 

Now  as  I  stood  grieving  thus,  I  saw  one  stand  below 
me  on  Deliverance,  looking  also  towards  the  reef,  a  woman 


How  I  Sought  Death  305 

tall  and  very  stately  and  habited  in  gown  of  rich  satin  and 
embroidery  caught  in  at  slender  waist  with  golden  girdle, 
and  about  her  head  a  scarf  of  lace.  And  this  woman  stood 
with  bowed  head  and  hands  tight-clasped  as  one  that 
grieved  also;  suddenly  she  raised  her  head  and  lifted 
folded  hands  to  the  cloudless  heaven  in  passionate  sup- 
plication. And  beholding  her  face,  I  knew  her  for  the 
poor  Spanish  lady  imploring  a  just  heaven  for  vengeance 
on  me  that  had  been  her  undoing;  and  uttering  a  great 
cry,  I  sank  on  my  knees : 

"Mercy,  O  God  —  mercy !  Let  me  not  be  mad ! "  Yet, 
even  as  I  prayed,  I  knew  that  madness  was  upon  me  ere 
I  plunged  again  into  the  dreadful  dark. 

But  God  (whose  mercy  is  infinite)  hearkened  to  my  dis- 
tressful cry  for,  in  a  while.  He  brought  me  up  from  that 
black  abyss  and  shewed  me  two  marvels  the  which  filled 
me  with  wonder  and  a  sudden,  passionate  hope.  And  the 
first  was  the  bandage  that  swathed  my  thigh;  and  this  of 
itself  enough  to  set  my  poor  wits  in  a  maze  of  speculation. 
For  this  bandage  was  of  linen,  very  fine  and  delicate,  such 
as  I  knew  was  not  to  be  found  upon  the  whole  island ;  yet 
here  was  it,  bound  about  my  hurt,  plain  and  manifest  and 
set  there  by  hands  well-skilled  in  such  kindly  work. 

And  my  second  wonder  was  a  silver  beaker  or  ewer  very 
artfully  wrought  and  all  chased  and  embossed  with  designs 
of  fruit  and  flower  and  of  a  rare  craftsmanship ;  and  this 
jug  set  within  my  reach  and  half  full  of  milk.  The  better 
to  behold  this,  I  raised  myself  and  with  infinite  labour. 
But  now,  and  suddenly,  she  was  before  me  again,  this  poor 
Spanish  lady  I  had  slain  upon  a  time,  wherefore  I  blenched 
and  shrank  from  her  coming.  But  she,  falling  upon  her 
knees,  sought  to  clasp  me  in  her  arms,  crying  words  I 
heeded  not  as  (maugre  my  weakness)  I  strove  wildly  to 
hold  her  oif. 

"I  am  Bartlemy  that  killed  you!"  says  I.  "I  am 
Black  Bartlemy !  They  know  out  yonder  beyond  the  reef ; 
hark!  and  you  shall  hear  how  they  hail  me — " 

"  Oh,  kind  God,  teach  me  how  I  may  win  him  back  to 


3o6     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

knowledge ! "  So  crying,  this  Spanish  lady  of  a  sudden 
unpinned  her  hair  and  shook  its  glossy  ripples  all  about 
her: 

"  Look,  Martin,"  cried  she.  "  Don't  you  know  me  — 
Oh,  don't  you  know  me  now?  I  am  Joan  —  come  back 
to  you." 

"  No !  "  said  I.  **  No  —  Damaris  is  dead  and  lost  —  I 
saw  her  die ! " 

"Then  who  am  I,  Martin?" 

"  The  Spanish  lady  or  —  one  of  the  ghosts  do  haunt 
me." 

But  now  her  hands  were  clasping  mine,  her  soft  hair  all 
about  me  as  she  stooped.  And  feeling  these  hands  so 
warm  and  vital,  so  quick  and  strong  with  life,  I  began  to 
tremble  and  strove  against  her  no  longer;  and  so  she 
stooped  above  me  that  I  might  feel  her  sweet  breath  on 
fevered  cheek  and  brow: 

"  'T  is  your  Damaris,  Martin,"  says  she,  her  tears  fall- 
ing fast ;  "  't  is  your  comrade  hath  come  back  to  comfort 
you." 

Now  seeing  how  I  stared  all  trembling  and  amazed,  she 
set  her  arms  about  me  and,  drawing  me  to  her  bosom, 
clasped  me  there.  And  my  head  pillowed  thus,  I  fell 
a-weeping  but  these  tears  were  tears  of  joy  and  a  thank- 
fulness beyond  all  words. 

"  Oh,  Damaris,"  quoth  I  at  last,  "  if  this  be  death,  I  care 
not,  since  I  have  thee  again !  " 

"  Why,  Martin,"  says  she,  weeping  with  me,  "  art  indeed 
so  glad  —  so  glad  to  find  again  thy  poor  comrade?  " 

And  thus,  knowing  myself  forgiven,  a  great  joy  sang 
within  me. 


CHAPTER   XXXI 
How  My  Deaji  Lady  Came  Back  to  Me 

I  WAS  sitting  in  one  of  our  armchairs  amid  the  leafy  shade, 
watching  her  knead  dough  with  her  two  pretty  fists.  To 
this  end  she  rolled  up  the  sleeves  of  her  splendid  gown; 
and  thus  I,  hearkening  to  her  story,  must  needs  stare  at 
her  soft,  round  arms  and  yearn  mightily  to  kiss  their 
velvety  smoothness  and,  instantly  berating  myself  there- 
for, shifted  my  gaze  from  these  temptations  to  my  own 
unlovely  figure,  contrasting  myself  and  my  worn  garments 
with  her  rich  attire  and  proud  and  radiant  beauty;  she 
was  again  the  great  lady  and  far  removed  above  such 
poor  wretch  as  I,  for  all  her  pitiful  tenderness. 

"...  and  so  when  I  plunged  from  the  rock,"  she  was 
saying,  "  I  never  thought  to  see  this  dear  place  again 
or  the  blessed  sun !  And  I  sank  .  .  .  oh,  deep  —  deep ! 
Then,  Martin,  I  seemed  to  be  caught  in  some  current,  far 
down  there  in  the  darkness,  that  whirled  and  tossed  me 
and  swept  me  behind  the  torrent.  And  in  the  rock  was 
a  great  cavern  sloping  to  the  water,  and  there  this  cur- 
rent threw  me,  aU  breathless  and  nigh  dead,  Martin — '* 

*'  God  be  thanked ! "  says  I  fervently. 

"  And  there  I  lay  all  night,  Martin,  very  sick  and  fear- 
ful. When  day  came,  I  saw  this  great  cave  opened  into 
a  smaller  and  this  into  yet  another.  So  I  came  to  a  pas- 
sage in  the  rock  and,  because  there  was  none  other  way  for 
me,  I  followed  this  —  and  then  —  oh,  Martin!" 

"What?"  quoth  I,  leaning  forward. 

*'Have  you  ever  been  to  the  palace  at  Versailles, 
Martin?" 

**  Once,  as  a  boy  with  my  father  —  " 

"Well,  Martin,  the  cave  —  the  hall  I  came  to  at  last  — 


3o8      Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

was  more  splendid  than  any  Versailles  can  show.  And 
then  I  knew  that  I  had  found  —  Black  Bartleraj'a 
Treasure ! " 

"  Ha !  "  quoth  I.    "  And  is  it  indeed  so  great  ?  " 

"  Beyond  description ! "  said  she,  clasping  her  floury 
hands  and  turning  on  me  with  shining  eyes.  "  I  have  held 
in  my  hands  jewels  —  oh,  by  the  handful!  Great  pearls 
and  diamonds,  rubies,  emeralds,  sapphires  —  beyond 
price !  '* 

"  Aye !  "  I  nodded.     "  But  was  this  all — .?  " 

"  All,  Martin .''  "  asked  she,  staring. 

"Why,  according  to  Adam,  there  should  be  all  manner 
of  stores,"  said  I.  "  Powder  and  shot,  tools  —  a  car- 
penter's chest — " 

"They  are  all  there,  with  provisions  of  every  kind;  as 
witness  this  flour,  Martin;  but  I  heeded  only  these  won- 
drous j  ewels  ! "  Hereupon  she  turned  to  her  work  again, 
describing  to  me  the  splendour  of  these  precious  stones 
and  the  wonder  of  Bartlemy's  treasure,  whiles  I,  viewing 
her  loveliness,  would  have  given  such  foolish  treasure  a 
thousand  times  for  but  her  little  finger,  as  watching  the 
play  of  her  round  arms  again,  I  fell  a-sighing,  whereon 
she  turns,  all  anxious  questioning: 

"  Doth  your  wound  trouble  you,  Martin  ?  " 

"  Nay  indeed,"  answered  I,  shaking  my  head.  *'  I  am 
very  well,  I  thank  you !  " 

*'Then  wherefore  sigh  so  deep  and  oft.'"' 

"  I  am  a  vasty  fool ! " 

"Are  you,  Martin  —  why.?"  But  in  place  of  answer 
I  rose  and,  coming  beside  her,  scowled  to  see  the  tender 
flesh  of  her  arms  all  black  and  bruised. 

"What  is  this?"  I  demanded. 

"Nought  to  matter!" 

"Who  did  it?" 

**  You,  Martin.  In  your  raving  you  were  very  strong, 
mistaking  me  for  the  poor  Spanish  lady  —  " 

"  Oh,  forgive  me ! "  I  cried  and  stooping  to  this  pretty 
arm  would  have  touched'  my  lips  thereto  for  mere  pity  but 


How  My  Dear  Lady  Came  Back    309 

checked  myself,  fearing  to  grieve  her;  perceiving  this,  she 
came  a  little  nearer. 

"  You  may  —  an  you  so  desire,  Martin,"  said  she, 
"  though  't  is  all  floury ! "  So  I  kissed  her  arm,  tenderly 
and  very  reverently,  as  it  had  been  some  holy  thing  (as 
indeed  so  I  thought  it). 

"  I  'm  glad  't  was  I  did  this,  comrade." 

"Glad,  Martin?" 

**  Aye !  I  had  rather  't  was  myself  than  yon  evil  rogues 
—  nay  —  forget  them,"  said  I,  seeing  her  shiver.  "  Plague 
on  me  for  reminding  you  —  " 

"  Hush,  Martin  !  " 

"  Why,  then,  forget  them  —  and  I  have  their  weapons 
to  cope  with  *em  should  they  return  —  " 

"  Now,  thank  God ! "  cried  she,  clasping  my  hand  in 
both  of  hers.  "  Thank  God,  Martin !  I  feared  you  had 
killed  them  aU !  » 

"  Why,  I  did  my  best,"  I  sighed,  shaking  my  head, 
*'  but  they  were  too  strong  for  me !  Would  to  God  I  had 
indeed  slain  —  " 

"  Hush,  Martin,  oh,  hush !  "  And  here  she  clapped  her 
pretty  hand  to  my  lips,  where  I  straightway  'prisoned  it 
to  m}'^  kisses.  "  Though  truly,"  said  she  whiles  this  was 
a-doing,  "  from  your  raving  I  feared  them  all  slain  at 
your  hand,  so  do  I  rejoice  to  know  you  innocent  of  their 
deaths!"  Here,  her  hand  released,  she  fell  a-laughing 
(albeit  a  little  tremulously)  to  see  my  face  all  patched 
with  flour ;  and  so,  back  to  her  labour. 

"  But  Martin,"  said  she,  turning  to  glance  at  me  in  a 
while,  "you  must  be  very  terrible  to  drive  away  these 
four  great  men,  and  very  brave ! " 

"  Here  was  no  bravery,"  quoth  I ;  "  methought  you 
surely  dead,  and  I  meant  them  to  slay  me  also." 

"Did  you  —  miss  me  —  so  greatly?"  she  questioned 
and  not  looking  at  me. 

"  Yes ! " 

"You  fought  them  in  Skeleton  Cove,  beyond  Deliver- 
ance, Martin?  " 


jio     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

"  Aye !     You  found  their  guns  there  ?  '* 

"And  the  sand  all  trampled  and  hatefully  stained. 
'Tis  an  evil  place,  Martin." 

"And  so  it  is!"  says  I.  "But  as  to  these  weapons, 
there  were  two  good  firelocks  I  mind  and  beside  —  " 

"  They  are  all  here,  Martin,  guns  and  swords  and  pis- 
tols. You  raved  for  them  in  your  sickness,  so  I  fetched 
them  while  you  slept.  Though  indeed  you  have  no  need  of 
these ;  there  be  weapons  of  every  sort  in  the  treasure  cave ; 
't  is  like  an  arsenal.'* 

"Ha,  with  good  store  of  powder  and  shot,  comrade.''" 

"  Yes,  Martin." 

*'  How  many  weeks  have  I  lain  sick,  comrade  .^^  " 

*'  Nay,  't  was  only  four  days." 

At  this  I  fell  to  marvelling  that  so  much  of  agony  might 
be  endured  in  so  little  time. 

"And  you  —  tended  me.  Damans?'* 

"  Why,  to  be  sure,  Martin." 

*'  And  so  saved  my  life." 

"  So  I  pray  may  it  be  a  life  lived  to  noble  purpose, 
Martin." 

And  now  I  sat  a  while  very  thoughtful  and  watched  her 
shape  the  dough  into  little  cakes  and  set  them  to  bake. 

"  I  must  contrive  you  an  oven  and  this  at  once ! "  said  I. 

"  When  you  are  strong  again,  Martin." 

**  Nay,  I  'm  well,  thanks  to  your  care  of  me.  And  truly 
't  will  be  wonderful  to  eat  bread  again." 

"  But,  Martin,  I  warned  you  I  had  no  yeast ! "  said  she, 
looking  at  me  a  little  anxiously.  "  Nay,  sir,  why  must  you 
smile?  " 

"  T  is  strange  to  see  you  at  such  labour  and  clad  so 
vastly  fine ! " 

"Indeed,  sir,  needs  must  this  your  cook-maid  go 
bedight  like  any  queen  since  nought  is  there  in  Black 
Bartlemy's  Treasure  that  is  not  sumptuous  and  splendid. 
Have  you  no  desire  to  behold  these  wonders  for  yourself?  " 

"Not  a  little!"  said  I. 

"  But  Martin,  three  moniJis  are  nigh  sped  and  Master 


How  My  Dear  Lady  Came  Back    311 

Penfeather  not  come,  and  according  to  his  letter  three 
quarters  of  this  great  treasure  is  jours." 

"  Why,  then,  my  lady,  I  do  freely  bestow  it  on  you." 

"Nay,  this  have  I  taken  already,  because  I  needed  it; 
look ! "  So  saying  she  drew  a  comb  from  her  hair  and 
showed  me  how  it  was  all  fashioned  of  wrought  gold  and 
set  with  great  gems,  pearls  and  sapphires  and  rubies  mar- 
vellous to  see. 

"  'T  is  mighty  handsome,"  quoth  I,  "  and  beyond  price, 
I  judge." 

"  And  yet,"  said  she,  "  I  would  rather  have  my  wooden 
pin  in  its  stead,  for  surely  there  was  none  like  to  it  in  aU 
this  world." 

Hereupon,  groping  in  my  pocket,  I  brought  out  that 
three-pronged  pin  I  had  carved  for  her ;  beholding  which, 
she  uttered  a  little  cry  of  glad  surprise  and,  letting  fall 
her  golden  comb,  took  the  pin  to  turn  it  this  way  and 
that,  viewing  it  as  it  had  been  the  very  wonder  of  the 
world  rather  than  the  poor  thing  it  was. 

"Why,  Martin!"  said  she  at  last,  "why,  Martin! 
Where  found  you  this  ?  "  So  I  told  her ;  and  though  my 
words  were  lame  and  halting,  I  think  she  guessed  some- 
what of  the  agony  of  that  hour  for  I  felt  her  hand  touch 
my  shoulder  like  a  caress. 

"Death's  shadow  hath  been  over  us  of  late,  Martin," 
said  she,  "  and  hath  made  us  wiser  methinks." 

"  Death  ?  "  said  I.  "  'T  is  mayhap  but  the  beginning  of 
a  greater  life  wherein  shall  be  no  more  partings,  I  pray." 

"  'T  is  a  sweet  thought,  Martin  !  " 

"  And  you  have  never  feared  death ! " 

"  Aye,  but  I  do,  Martin  —  I  do !  "  cried  she.  "  I  am 
grown  craven  these  days,  mayhap  —  " 

"Yet  you  sought  death." 

**  Because  there  was  no  other  way,  IMartin.  But  when 
Death  clutched  at  me  from  those  black  depths,  I  agonised 
for  life." 

"  Is  life  then  —  become  so  —  sweet  to  you,  Damaris  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Martin ! "  answered  she  softly. 


312      Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

"Since  when?"  I  questioned.  "Since  when?"  But 
instead  of  answering  she  falls  a-singing  softly  and  keeping 
her  back  to  me;  thus  I  saw  that  she  had  set  the  pin  back 
in  her  hair,  whereat  I  grew  all  suddenly  and  beyond  rea- 
son glad.  Though  indeed  the  thing  accorded  but  ill  with 
her  fine  gown,  as  I  told  her  forthwith. 

"  Think  you  so,  Martin  ?  "  said  she  gravely,  but  with 
a  dimple  in  her  cheek. 

"I  do!  'TIS  manifestly  out  of  keeping  with  your 
'broideries,  your  pleats,  tags,  lappets,  pearl  buttons,  gal- 
loons and  the  rest  on't." 

"  'T  would  almost  seem  you  do  not  like  me  thus  ?  "  said 
she,  frowning  down  at  her  finery  but  with  the  dimple  show- 
ing plainer  than  ever. 

"  Why,  truly,"  said  I,  stooping  to  take  up  the  j  ewelled 
comb  where  it  lay,  "  I  liked  your  ragged  gown  better." 

*'  Because  your  own  clothes  are  so  worn  and  sorry,  sir. 
'T  is  time  you  had  better ;  I  must  see  to  it  —  " 

"  Nay,  never  trouble ! " 

"  'T  will  be  j  oy ! "  said  she  sweetly,  but  setting  her  chin 
at  me.     "And  then  —  good  lack,  your  hair,  Martin!" 

"What  of  it?" 

"  All  elf  locks.     And  then,  your  beard !  " 

"What  o' my  beard?" 

"  So  wild  and  shaggy !  And  't  is  so  completely  out  o' 
the  mode." 

"Mode?"  said  I,  frowning._ 

"Mode,  Martin.  Your  spade  beard  was,  then  came 
your  dagger  or  stiletto  and  now  —  " 

*'  Hum ! "  says  I,  "  it  may  be  your  broadsword  or  half- 
pike  for  aught  I  care.    But  as  to  your  gown  —  " 

"  Alas,  poor  thing !  'T  will  soon  look  worn  and  ragged 
as  you  can  wish,  Martin.  I  have  already  lost  three  pearl 
studs  and  should  grieve  for  them  were  there  not  a  coffer 
full  of  better  that  I  wot  of.  Oh,  Martin,  when  I  think  of 
all  these  wonders  —  these  great  diamonds,  emeralds,  sap- 
phires, pearls  and  rubies  —  I  do  tingle !  " 

"  And  can  these  toys  so  please  you?  "  said  I, 


How  My  Dear  Lady  Came  Back    313 

"  Yes !  '*  cried  she,  "  Yes,  and  so  would  they  any  other 
that  was  not  a  stock  or  a  stone  or  —  Martin  Conisby,  who 
is  aJbove  such  vanities  !  " 

"  Vanities  indeed !  "  said  I.  "  In  this  wilderness  more 
especially." 

"  How  if  we  should  find  the  world  again?  " 

"  Hum !  "  said  I.     "  But  this  powder  and  shot  now  —  " 

"  Pho ! "  cried  she  and  stamping  her  foot,  turned  her 
back  on  me.  "  Here  am  I  yearning  to  show  you  all  these 
hidden  marvels,  Martin,  but  I  never  will  until  you  beg  me 
—  no,  never !    And  now  't  is  time  you  took  your  medicine." 

"What  medicine.''"  I  questioned,  wondering. 

"  'T  is  a  soothing  draught  I  have  decocted  from  some 
of  my  simples ;  it  will  make  you  sleep." 

"  But  I  have  no  mind  to  sleep ! " 

"  T  is  why  you  must  drink  your  potion.'* 

"  Never  in  this  world ! "  said  I,  mighty  determined. 

"  Why,  yes,  you  will,  dear  Martin,"  said  she  gently, 
but  setting  her  dimpled  chin  at  me.  "  I  '11  go  fetch  it." 
And  away  she  went  forthwith  and  came  presently  back 
bearing  an  embossed  cup  (like  unto  a  little  porringer) 
and  of  gold  curiously  ornamented. 

"  Here  is  noble  cup !  "   said  I. 

"  In  these  secret  caves,  Martin,  is  nothing  that  is  not 
beautiful.  The  walls  are  all  hung  with  rich  arras,  the 
floors  adorned  with  marvellous  rugs  and  carpets.  And 
there  are  many  pictures  excellent  well  painted.  Pirate 
and  wicked  as  he  was.  Black  Bartlemy  understood  and 
loved  beautiful  things." 

"  Aye,  he  did  so ! "  said  I,  scowling. 

"And  amongst  these  pictures  is  one  of  himself." 

"How  should  you  know  this.'*" 

"  Because,  were  you  shaven,  Martin,  this  might  pass  for. 
picture  of  you,  though  to  be  sure  your  expression  is  dif- 
ferent —  except    when    you    scowl    as    you    do    now,    sir. 
Come  take  your  medicine  like  a  good  Martin !  "    And  here 
she  set  the  cup  to  my  lips. 

"  No  !  "  said  I. 


314     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

"  Yes,  Martin !  'T  is  sleep  you  need  and  sleep  you  shall 
have.  For  indeed  I  do  long  to  hear  j^ou  at  work  again 
and  whistling.  So  drink  it  for  my  sake,  Martin !  Indeed, 
't  is  none  so  very  bitter !  " 

So  in  the  end  I  swallowed  the  stuff  to  be  done  with  it. 
And  in  a  while  (sure  enough)  I  grew  drowsy  and,  limping 
into  the  cave,  stared  to  behold  my  bed  no  longer  a  heap 
of  bracken  but  a  real  bed  with  sheets  and  pillows,  such 
indeed  as  I  had  not  slept  in  for  many  a  long  day.  Thus, 
instead  of  throwing  myself  down  all  dressed,  as  I  had 
been  minded,  I  laid  aside  my  rough  clothes  lest  they  soil 
this  dainty  gear  and,  getting  into  bed,  joyed  in  the  feel 
of  these  cool,  white  sheets  and,  closing  my  eyes,  fell  to 
dreamless  slumber. 

I  awoke  late  next  morning  to  find  my  clothes  clean  gone 
and  others  in  their  place;  but  garments  these  whose  like 
I  had  never  seen.  For  here  were  purple  breeches  be-laced 
and  ribbanded  at  the  knee  and  buttoning  there  with  great 
gold  buttons  (six  a  side)  and  each  set  with  a  great  pearl; 
a  fine  cambric  shirt;  a  doublet  cut  in  at  the  waist  with 
gold-braided  lappets ;  the  sleeves  slashed  and  very  wide 
and  turned  up  at  the  wrists  with  point  lace,  and  this 
wondrous  garment  fastening  in  front  with  many  gold  but- 
tons all  set  with  goodly  pearls ;  so  that  I  judged  this  coat 
to  be  a  very  fortune  in  itself.  Besides  this,  I  found  a 
great  lace  collar  or  falling  band,  a  pair  of  silk  stockings, 
shoes  with  gold  buckles  set  with  diamonds  and  a  great 
penthouse  of  a  hat  adorned  with  a  curling  feather  fastened 
by  a  diamond  brooch;  whiles  hard  by  was  an  embroidered 
shoulder  belt  carrying  a  long  rapier,  its  guards  and 
quillons  of  wrought  gold,  its  pommel  flaming  with  great 
brilliants.  Beholding  all  of  which  gauds  and  fopperies, 
I  vowed  I  'd  none  of  them  and,  cowering  beneath  the  sheets, 
fell  to  shouting  and  hallooing  for  my  lady ;  but  finding  this 
vain,  scowled  at  these  garments  instead.  They  were  of  a 
fashion  such  as  I  remwnbered  my  father  had  worn;  and 
now"  as  I  gazed  on  them,  a  strange  fancy  took  me  to  learn 
how  I   (that  had  gone  so  long  half-naked  and  in  rags) 


How  My  Dear  Lady  Came  Back   315 

might  feel  in  such  sumptuous  apparel.  So  up  I  got  and 
dressed  forthwith  and  found  this  a  matter  of  no  small 
difficulty,  what  with  the  unfamiliar  shape  of  these  garments 
and  their  numberless  points  and  buttons.  Howbeit  'twas 
done  at  last  and  now,  coming  without  the  cave,  there  was 
my  lady  upon  her  three-legged  stool  preparing  breakfast. 
Beholding  me  she  stared  wide-eyed  for  a  moment,  then  she 
rose,  smiling  roguishly,  and  sank  down  in  a  slow  and 
gracious  curtsey. 

"  Good  morrow  to  your  lordship,"  said  she.  "  Your 
lordship  called,  I  think,  but  I  could  not  answer  your  lord- 
ship's shouts  since  I  was  busied  preparing  your  lordship's 
breakfast." 

Now  beholding  all  the  sweet  and  roguish  witchery  of 
her,  the  sun  so  bright  and  the  world  about  us  so  joyous, 
what  could  I  do  but  smile  and,  sweeping  off  my  great  hat, 
make  her  as  deep  and  profound  a  reverence  as  ever  was 
seen  at  Whitehall  or  Versailles. 

"  Madame,"  quoth  I,  "  your  ladyship's  most  humble  and 
very  obedient  servant.  I  trust  your  ladyship  hath  break- 
fast ready,  for  of  a  truth  my  magnificence  is  mighty  sharp 
set." 

"  Oh,  Martin,"  cried  she,  clapping  her  hands,  "  I  vow 
't  was  most  gallant !  It  needeth  but  for  you  to  trim  your 
hair  and  beard  —  no,  I  think  I  will  have  you  clean-shaven, 
't  will  mind  me  of  the  boyish  Martin  of  years  ago !  Yes, 
you  shall  shave  —  " 

*'  Shave !  "  quoth  I,  staring  like  any  fool. 

"  Yes,  Martin,  I  have  all  things  ready.  Come,  it  shall 
not  take  you  long,  we  will  breakfast  when  you  are  shaved 
and  trimmed."  So,  >villy-nilly,  she  brought  me  back  to 
the  cave,  and  presently  came  bearing  a  gold-mounted  box 
wherein  lay  razors  with  soap  and  everything  needful  to  a 
fine  gentleman's  toilet.  Then  she  set  before  me  a  gold- 
framed  mirror  and,  taking  a  pair  of  scissors  at  her  bid- 
ding I  began  to  clip  the  hair  from  my  face  but  so  bungled 
the  business  that  she  presently  took  the  scissors  and  did 
it  for  me.     Thereafter  I  shaved  (awkwardly  enough  and 


3i6    Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

she  mighty  anxious  lest  I  cut  myself  —  the  which  I  did!) 
and,  having  at  last  washed  and  dried  my  face,  I  stood  all 
amazed  to  find  myself  so  much  younger-looking.  Now, 
seeing  how  she  stared  at  me  and  with  rosy  lips  all  a-quiver, 
I  smiled,  then  wondered  to  behold  her  eyes  suddenly  a-brim 
with  tears. 

"  Oh,  Martin,  you  do  look  the  same  Martin,  after  all ! " 
said  she,  and  so  away  into  the  sunshine;  yet  when  I  pres- 
ently joined  her  I  found  her  blithe  enough. 

"Are  you  hungry,  sir.?" 

"  Ravenous,  my  lady ! " 

"Why,  then,  here  we  have  broiled  fish  (caught  by  mj 
ladyship),  salt,  Martin!  Butter  —  churned  by  my  lady- 
ship—  and  —  bread,  Martin!  Bread  baked  by  my 
ladyship's  own  two  hands." 

"  Oh,  marvellous,  sweet  lady ! "  said  I. 

"  And  't  is  none  so  ill  though  I  had  no  yeast,  is  it, 
Martin.?" 

"  Delicious !  "  answered  I,  my  mouth  full. 

And  now,  all  our  recent  woes  and  sorrows  clean  for- 
gotten, a  right  joyous  meal  had  we;  our  hearts  light  as 
the  sweet  air  that  breathed  around  us,  and  untroubled  as 
the  placid  ocean  and  broad  serenity  of  heaven,  with  no 
dark  shadow  anywhere  to  warn  us  of  those  evils  to  come. 
Thus  we  ate  and  talked,  finding  joy  in  everything.  Often 
my  fingers  must  go  to  feel  my  smooth  cheeks  and  chin, 
and  she,  catching  me,  must  needs  laugh  and  vow  a  smooth 
face  suited  me  well  and  that  I  should  be  handsome  were 
my  nose  another  shape  and  my  eyes  a  different  colour. 
Thus  (as  I  say)  brooding  sorrow  seemed  clean  vanished 
from  my  world,  so  that  my  heart  swelled  with  gratitude 
for  that  I  should  live  to  breathe  the  air  she  made  sweet. 

Breakfast  done,  I  fetched  my  saw  and,  despite  her  re- 
monstrances and  my  resplendent  breeches,  forthwith  set 
about  making  us  a  cupboard;  vowing  I  was  well  again, 
that  I  never  felt  better,  etc.  Hereupon,  finding  me  set  on 
it,  she  presently  brought  me  the  following,  viz:  An  ex- 
cellent new  saw,  divers  chisels  of  goodly  edge,  a  plane,  a 


How  My  Dear  Lady  Came  Back    317 

hammer,  an  auger  and  an  adze;  the  which  rejoiced  me 
greatly,  more  especially  the  adze,  the  same  being  an  ex- 
ceeding useful  tool  in  skilled  hands.  All  these  she  had 
brought  from  the  secret  store,  and  I  mighty  grateful 
therefor  and  told  her  so. 

"  Why,  then,  Martin,"  said  she,  "  if  your  gratitude  be 
real  and  true,  you  shall  do  somewhat  for  me  —  " 

"What  you  will!"   said  I  eagerly. 

**Nay,"  she  laughed,  "'tis  no  more  than  this — keep 
you  shaved  —  henceforth." 

And  so  it  was  agreed. 


CHAPTER   XXXII 

Of  the  Voice  That  Sang  on  Deliverance  Sands    J 

If  clothes  be  the  outward  and  visible  (albeit  silent)  ex-' 
pression  of  a  man,  his  tastes  and  certain  attitudes  of  hisj 
mind,  yet  have  they  of  themselves  a  mighty  influence  on 
their  wearer,  being,  as  it  were,  an  inspiration  to  him  in 
degree  more  or  less.  ^ 

And  this  is  truth  I  will  maintain,  let  say  who  will  to  the, 
contrary,  since  'tis  so  my  experience  teacheth  me.  1 

Hitherto  my  ragged  shirt,  my  rough  leathern  jerkin 
and  open-kneed  sailor's  breeches  had  been  a  constant  re- 
minder of  the  poor  desperate  rogue  I  had  become;  my: 
wild  hair  and  shaggy  beard  evidences  of  slavedom.  Thusi 
I  had  been  indeed  what  I  had  seemed  in  looks,  —  a  rude,; 
ungentle  creature  expectant  of  scorns  and  ill-usage  andj 
therefore  very  prone  to  fight  and  quarrel,  harsh-tongued, 
bitter  of  speech  and  in  all  circumstances  sullen,  ungoverned 
and  very  desperate. 

But  now,  seeing  myself  thus  gently  dight,  my  wildj 
hair  tamed  by  comb  and  scissors,  there  grew  within  me  ai 
new  respect  for  my  manhood,  so  that,  little  by  little,  those 
evils  that  slavery  had  wrought  slipped  from  me.  Thus, 
though  I  still  laboured  at  my  carpentry  and  such  busi- 
ness as  was  to  do,  yet  the  fine  linen  rolled  high  above  my 
scarred  and  knotted  arm  put  me  to  the  thought  that  I  was 
no  longer  the  poor,  wild  wretch  full  of  despairing  rage 
against  Fate  and  her  cruel  dealings,  but  rather  a  man 
gently  bom  and  therefore  one  who  must  endure  all  things 
as  uncomplainingly  as  might  be,  and  one  moreover  who,  to 
greater  or  less  degree,  was  master  of  his  own  fate. 

And  now  came  Hope,  that  most  blessed  and  beneficent 


of  the  Voice  on  Deliverance  Sands    319 

spirit  that  lifteth  the  fallen  from  the  slough,  that  bindeth 
up  the  broken  heart,  that  cheereth  the  sad  and  downcast 
and  maketh  the  oft-defeated  bold  and  courageous  to  at- 
tempt Fortune  yet  again. 

Oh,  thou  that  we  call  Hope,  thou  sweet,  bright  angel  of 
God!  Without  thee  life  were  an  evil  unendurable,  with 
thee  for  companion  gloomy  Doubt,  sullen  Fear  and  dark 
Despair  flee  utterly  away  and  we,  bold-hearted,  patient 
and  undismayed  by  any  dangers  or  difficulties,  may  real- 
ise our  dreams  at  last.  Oh,  sweet,  strong  angel  of  God, 
with  thee  to  companion  us  all  things  are  possible! 

Thus  every  morning  came  Hope  to  greet  me  on  my 
waking  and  I,  forgetting  the  futile  past,  began  to  look 
forward  to  a  future  more  glorious  than  I  ever  dreamed; 
so  I,  from  a  sullen  rogue  full  of  black  humours,  grew  to 
know  again  the  joy  of  laughter  and  put  off"  my  ungra- 
cious speech  and  ways  with  my  rough  attire.  Though 
how  much  the  change  thus  wrought  in  me  was  the  work  of 
my  sweet  comrade,  these  pages,  I  do  think,  will  show. 

As  for  my  lady  she,  very  quick  to  mark  this  change, 
grew  ever  the  more  kind  and  trusting,  sharing  with  me  all 
her  doubts  and  perplexities;  thus,  did  some  problem  vex 
her,  she  must  come  to  me,  biting  her  pretty  lips  and  her 
slender  brows  wrinkled,  to  ask  my  advice. 

At  this  time  (and  at  her  suggestion)  I  builded  a  fire- 
place and  oven  within  our  third  or  inmost  cave  (that  was 
by  turns  her  larder,  stillroom,  dairy'  and  kitchen)  and 
with  a  chimney  to  carry  off  the  smoke,  the  which  I  formed 
of  clay  and  large  pebbles,  and  found  it  answer  very  well. 
Thus,  what  with  those  things  I  contrived  and  others  she 
brought  from  her  treasure  house  (the  secret  whereof  she 
kept  mighty  close)  we  lacked  for  nothing  to  our  com- 
fort, even  as  Adam  had  promised  in  his  letter.  More- 
over I  was  very  well  armed,  both  for  offence  and  defence 
for,  one  by  one  she  brought  me  the  following  pieces,  viz; 
A  Spanish  helmet  inlaid  with  gold  and  very  cumbersome ; 
a  back  and  breast  of  fine  steel  of  proof;  four  wheel-lock 
arquebuses,   curiously   chased   and   gilded  with   shot  and 


3  20     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure        /     j 

powder  for  the  same ;  three  brace  of  pistols,  gold-mounted  i 
and  very  accurate;  and  what  with  these,  my  sword,  axe  1 
and  trusty  knife,  I  felt  myself  capable  to  drive  away  any 
should  dare  molest  us,  be  he  Indian,  buccaneer  or  pirate,  ■ 
as  I  told  her.  j 

"  Aye,  but,"  said  she,  "  whiles  you  fought  for  our  lives,  \ 
what  must  I  be  doing?  "  ; 

"Lying  secure  within  your  secret  treasure  house." 

**  Never,"  says  she,  setting  her  chin  at  me.  "  Oh,  ] 
never,  Martin;  since  I  am  your  comrade  my  place  must  | 
be  beside  you."  ; 

"  'T  would  but  distress  me  and  spoil  my  shooting." 

**Why,  then,  my  aim  should  be  truer,  Martin.  Come  ' 
now,  teach  me  how  to  use  gun  and  pistol." 

So  then  and  there  I  fetched  a  pistol  and  one  of  the 
arquebuses  and  showed  her  their  manage,  namely  —  how  ( 
to  hold  them,  to  level,  sight,  etc.     Next  I  taught  her  how 
to  charge  them,  how  to  wad  powder  and  then  shot,  lest  the  ' 
ball  roll  out  of  the  barrel ;  how,  having  primed,  she  must 
be  careful  ever  to  close  the  pan  against  the  priming  being  ; 
blown  away,  aU  of  the  which  she  was  mighty  quick  to  ap-  ' 
prehend.     Moreover,  I  took  care  to  keep  all  my  firearms  i 
cleaned  and  loaded,  that  I  might  be  ready  for  any  dis-  : 
turbers  of  our  peace. 

So  the  days  sped,  each  with  its  meed  of  work  but  each  i 
full-charged  of  joy.  And  dear  to  me  beyond  expressing 
is  the  memory  of  these  days  whenas  I,  labouring  with  my  i 
new  tools,  had  but  to  lift  my  head  to  behold  my  dear  com-  j 
rade  (herself  busy  as  I).  Truly,  how  dear,  how  thrice- 
blessed  the  memory  of  it  all.  A  memory  this,  indeed,  | 
that  was  to  become  for  me  sacred  beyond  all  others;  for  \ 
now  came  Happiness  with  arms  outstretched  to  me  and  | 
I  (poor,  blind  wretch)  suffered  it  to  plead  in  vain  and  \ 
pass  me  by,  as  you  shall  hear. 

It  was  a  night  of  splendour  with  a  full  moon  uprising 
in  majesty  to   fill  the  world  with  her  soft   radiance;   a  ' 
night  very  warm  and  still  and  we  silent,  I  think  because  I 
of  the  tender  beauty  of  the  night. 


of  the  Voice  on  Deliverance  Sands   321: 

"  Martin,"  said  my  companion  softly  at  last,  "  here 
is  another  day  sped  —  " 

"  Alas,  and  more  's  the  pity ! "  quoth  I. 

"Oh?"  and  she  looked  at  me  askance. 

"  Our  days  fly  all  too  fast,  Damaris ;  here  is  a  time  I 
fain  would  linger  upon,  an  I  might." 

"  It  hath  been  a  very  wonderful  time  truly,  Martin, 
and  hath  taught  me  very  much.  We  are  both  the  better 
for  it,  I  think,  and  you  —  " 

"What  of  me,  comrade?"  I  questioned  as  she  paused. 

"You  are  grown  so  much  gentler  since  your  sickness, 
so  much  more  my  dear  friend  and  companion." 

"Why,  'tis  all  your  doing,  Damaris." 

"I  am  glad  —  oh,  very  glad!"  said  she  almost  in  a 
whisper. 

"Why,  'tis  you  who  have  taught  me  to  —  to  love  all 
good,  sweet  things,  to  rule  myself  that  I  —  I  may  some 
day,  mayhap,  be  a  little  more  worthy  of  —  of  —  "  Here, 
beginning  to  flounder,  I  came  to  sudden  halt  and  casting 
about  in  my  mind  for  a  likely  phrase,  saw  her  regarding 
me,  the  dimple  in  her  cheek,  but  her  eyes  all  compassion- 
ate and  ineffably  tender. 

"  Dear  man !  "   said  she,  and  reached  me  her  hand. 

*'  Damaris,"  said  I  heavily,  looking  down  at  these 
slender  fingers  and  yet  not  daring  to  kiss  them  .lest  my 
passion  sweep  me  away,  "you  know  that  I  do  love 
you  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Martin." 

"  And  that  my  love,  be  it  what  it  may,  is  yet  an  honest 
love?" 

"  Yes,  dear  Martin," 

Here  was  silence  a  while,  she  looking  up  at  the  moon, 
and  I  at  her. 

"  I  broke  my  oath  to  you  once,"  said  I,  "  nor  will  I 
swear  again,  but  dear  my  lady,  know  this:  though  I  do 
hunger  and  thirst  for  you,  yet  mine  is  such  reverent  love 
that  should  we  live  thus  together  long  years  —  aye,  until 
the  end  of  our  lives,  I  will  school  myself  to  patience  and 


3  22      Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure  ] 

wait  ever  upon  your  will.  Though  't  will  be  hard !  "  said 
I  *twixt  my  teeth,  thrilling  to  the  sudden  clasp  of  heri 
fingers.  I 

"But,  Martin,"  said  she  softly,  "how  if  our  days  to-| 
gether  here  should  all  suddenly  end  —  "  j 

"End?"  cried  I,  starting.  "Wherefore  end.?  When? 
Why  end  ?  "  And  I  trembled  in  a  sick  panic  at  the  merQ 
possibility.  "  End  ?  "  quoth  I  again.  "  Would  you  have 
an  end.?" 

"  No  —  ah,  no ! "  said  she,  leaning  to  me  that  I  could 
look  down  into  her  eyes. 

"Doth  this  —  oh,  Damaris,  can  this  mean  that  you 
are  happy  with  me  in  this  solitude — content — .?  " 

"  So  happy,  Martin,  so  content  that  I  do  fear  lest  it 
may  all  suddenly  end  and  vanish  like  some  loved  dream.'^ 

"  Damaris  —  oh,  Damaris ! "  said  I,  kissing  her  sweet 
fingers.  "Look  now,  there  is  question  hath  oft  been  on 
my  lips,  yet  one  I  have  not  dared  to  ask." 

"Ask  me  now,  Martin." 

"  'T  is  this  —  could  it  —  might  it  perchance  be  possible 
you  should  learn  with  time  —  mayhap  —  to  love  me  a 
little.?  Nay,  not  a  little,  not  gently  nor  with  reason,  but 
fiercely,  mightily,  beyond  the  cramping  bounds  of  all 
reason .?  " 

Now  here  she  laughed,  a  small,  sad  laugh  with  no  mirth 
in  it,  and  leaned  her  brow  against  my  arm  as  one  very 
weary. 

"  Oh,  foolish  Martin  !  "  she  sighed.  "  How  little  you 
have  seen,  how  little  guessed  —  how  little  you  know  the 
real  me!  For  I  am  a  woman,  Martin,  as  you  are  a  man, 
and  joy  in  it.  All  these  months  I  have  watched  you  grow- 
ing back  to  your  nobler  self;  I  have  seen  you  strive  with 
yourself  for  my  sake  and  gloried  in  your  victories^ 
though  —  sometimes  I  have  —  tempted  you  —  just  a  lit- 
tle, Martin.  Nay,  wait,  dear  Martin.  Ofttimes  at  night 
I  have  known  you  to  steal  forth  and  hearkened  to  your 
step  going  to  and  fro  out  in  the  dark,  and  getting  to  my 
knees  have  thanked  God  for  you,  Martin."  : 


Ofthe  Voice  on  Deliverance  Sands   323 

"  'T  was  not  all  in  vain,  then ! "  said  I  hoarsely,  be- 
thinking me  of  the  agony  of  those  sleepless  nights. 

"Vain?"  she  cried.  "Vain.''  'Tis  for  this  I  do  honour 
you  —  " 

"Honour  —  me.'^"   said  I,  wincing. 

"  Above  all  men,  Martin.     'T  is  for  this  I  —  " 

"  Wait !  '*  said  I,  fronting  her  all  shame-faced.  "  I  do 
love  you  so  greatly  I  would  not  have  you  dream  me  better 
than  I  am !  So  now  must  I  tell  you  this :  I  stole  to  you 
once  —  at  midnight  —  you  were  asleep,  the  moonlight  all 
about  you,  and  looked  like  an  angel  of  God." 

And  now  it  was  my  turn  to  stare  up  at  the  moon  whiles 
I  waited  miserably  enough  for  her  answer. 

"  And  when  you  went  away,  Martin,"  said  she  at  last, 
"  when  I  heard  you  striding  to  and  fro,  out  here  beneath 
God's  stars,  I  knew  that  yours  was  the  greatest,  noblest 
love  in  all  the  world." 

"  You  —  saw  me .''  " 

"Yes,  Martin!" 

"Yet  your  eyes  were  fast  shut." 

"Yes,  but  not  —  not  all  the  time.  And  oh,  Martin, 
dear,  dear  Martin,  I  saw  your  great,  strong  arms  reach 
out  to  take  me  —  but  they  didn't,  they  didn't  because 
true  love  is  ever  greatly  merciful !  And  your  triumph 
was  mine  also,  Martin !  And  so  it  is  I  love  you  —  worship 
you,  and  needs  must  all  my  days." 

And  now  we  were  on  our  feet,  her  hands  in  mine,  eyes 
staring  into  eyes  and  never  a  word  to  speak. 

"Is  it  true?"  said  I  at  last.  "God,  Damaris  —  is  it 
true?" 

"Seems  it  so  wonderful,  dear  Martin?  Why,  this  love 
of  mine  reacheth  back  through  the  years  to  Sir  Martin, 
my  little  knight  errant,  and  hath  grown  with  the  years 
I  till  now  it  filleth  me  and  the  universe  about  me.  Have  you 
[forgot  'twas  your  picture  hung  opposite  my  bed  at  home, 
your  sword  I  kept  bright  because  it  had  been  yours?  And 
often,  Martin,  here  on  our  dear  island,  I  have  wept  some- 
times for  love  of  you  because  it  pained  me  so !     Nay, 


324     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure  • 

wait,  beloved,  first  let  me  speak,  though  I  do  yearn  forj 
your  kisses !  But  this  night  is  the  greatest  ever  was  or  ^ 
mayhap  ever  shall  be,  and  we,  alone  here  in  the  wild,  do 
lie  beyond  all  human  laws  soever  save  those  of  our  great' 
love —    And  oh,  Martin,  you  —  you  do  love  me?  " 

Now  when  I  would  have  answered  I  could  not,  so  I  > 
sank  to  my  knees  and,  stooping  ere  she  knew,  clasped^ 
and  kissed  the  pretty  feet  of  her.  \ 

"  No,  Martin  —  beloved,  ah  no  !  "  cried  she  as  it  were ' 
pain  to  her,  and  kneeling  before  me,  set  her  soft  attns ' 
about  my  neck.  "  Martin,"  said  she,  "  as  we  kneel  thus  i 
in  this  wilderness  alone  with  God,  here  and  now,  before 
your  lips  touch  mine,  so  great  and  trusting  is  my  love: 
I  ask  of  you  no  pledge  but  this:  Swear  now  in  God's 
sight  to  renounce  and  put  away  all  thought  of  vengeance; 
now  and  for  ever;  swear  this,  Martin!"  * 

Now  I,  all  bemused  by  words  so  unexpected,  all  dazzled  1 
as  it  were  by  the  pleading,  passionate  beauty  of  her,j 
closed  my  eyes  that  I  might  think.  j 

"Give  me  until  to-morrow  —  "  I  groaned. 

"  'T  will  be  too  late !    Choose  now,  Martin." 

"Let  me  think  — "  i 

"  'T  is  no  time  for  thought !  Choose,  Martin !  This  i 
hour  shall  never  come  again,  so  Martin  —  speak  now' 
or—"  i 

The  words  died  on  her  lip,  her  eyes  opened  in  sudden, 
dreadful  amaze,  and  thus  we  remained,  kneeling  rigid  in  I 
each  other's  arms,  for,  away  across  Deliverance,  deep  and; 
full  and  clear,  a  voice  was  singing:  «  ; 

There  be  two  at  the  fore 

At  the  main  be  three  more,  j 

Dead  men  that  swing  all  of  a  row;  ■ 

Here  's  fine  dainty  meat  I 

For  the  fishes  to  eat: 

Black  Bartlemy  —  Bartlemy,  ho!  \ 

Long  after  the  singing  had  died  away  I  (like  onej 
(dazed)    could  think  of  nought  but   this   accursed   song, 


of  the  Voice  on  Deliverance  Sands   325 

these  words  the  which  had  haunted  my  sick  bed  and  me- 
thought  no  more  than  the  outcome  of  my  own  fevered 
imagination;  thus  my  mind  running  on  this  and  very  full 
of  troubled  perplexity,  I  suffered  my  lady  to  bring  me 
within  our  refuge,  but  with  my  ears  on  the  stretch  as  ex- 
pectant to  hear  again  that  strange,  deep  voice  sing  these 
words  I  had  heard  chaunted  by  a  dead  man  in  my  dreams. 

Being  come  within  our  third  cave  (or  kitchen)  my  lady 
showed  me  a  small  cord  that  dangled  in  certain  shadowy 
comer  and,  pulling  on  this  cord,  down  fell  a  rope  ladder 
and  hangs  suspended ;  and  I  knew  this  for  Adam's  "  ladder 
of  cords  "  whereby  he  had  been  wont  to  mount  into  his 
fourth  (and  secret)  cavern,  as  mentioned  in  his  chronicle. 

"  Here  lieth  safety,  Martin,"  said  my  lady,  "  for  as 
Master  Penfeather  writes  in  his  journal,  *one  resolute 
man  lying  upon  the  hidden  ledge'  (up  yonder)  *may 
withstand  a  whole  army  so  long  as  his  shot  last.'  And 
you  are  very  resolute  and  so  am  I ! " 

"  True !  "  said  I.  "  True !  "  Yet,  even  as  I  spake,  stood 
all  tense  and  rigid,  straining  my  ears  to  catch  again  the 
words  of  this  hateful  song.  But  now  my  dear  lady 
caught  my  hand  and,  peering  up  at  me  in  my  dimness, 
presently  drew  me  into  the  outer  cave  where  the  moon 
made  a  glory. 

"  Oh,  Martin ! "  said  she,  looking  up  at  me  with 
troubled  eyes.     "  Dear  Martin,  what  is  it?  " 

"  Aye  —  what  ? "  quoth  I,  wiping  sweat  from  me. 
"God  knoweth!  But  you  heard?  That  song?  The 
words  —  " 

"I  heard  a  man  singing,  Martin.  But  what  of  it  —  we 
are  safe  here!    Ah  —  why  are  you  so  strange?" 

"Damaris,"  said  I,  joying  in  the  comfort  of  her  soft, 
strong  arms  about  me,  "  dear  love  of  mine,  here  is  thing 
beyond  my  understanding,  for  these  were  words  I  dreamed 
sung  to  me  by  a  dead  man  —  the  man  Humphrey  — 
out  beyond  the  reef  —  " 

"  Nay,  but  dear  Martin,  this  was  a  real  voice.  'T  is 
some  shipwrecked  mariner  belike,  some  castaway  — " 


326     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

"Aye,  but  did  you  —  mark  these  words,  Damaris?"       ; 

"  Nay  —  oh,  my  dear,  how  should  I  —  at  such  a  mo-  i 
ment ! "  i 

"  They  were  all  —  of  Black  Bartlemy !  And  what  \ 
should  this  mean,  think  you  ?  "  i 

"  Nay,  dear  love,  never  heed ! "  said  she,  clasping  me  j 
the  closer.  j 

"Aye,  but  I  must,  Damaris,  for — in  a  while  this  sing- 
ing shall  come  again,  mayhap,  and  —  if  it  doth  —  I  know  \ 
what  'twill  be!"  i 

*'0h,  Martin  —  Martin,  what  do  you  mean?" 

"  I  mean  't  will  be  about  the  poor  Spanish  lady,"   said 
I  and,  catching  up  my  belt  where  it  hung,  I  buckled  it  , 
about  me.  ' 

"Ah  —  what  would  you  do,  Martin?" 

"  I  'm  for  Deliverance  —  "  j 

"Then  will  I  come  also  — " 

"  No !  "  said  I,  catching  her  in  fierce  arms.  "  No !  j 
You  are  mine  henceforth  and  more  precious  than  life  to  ' 
me.  So  must  you  bide  here  —  I  charge  you  by  our  love.  ' 
For  look  now,  't  is  in  my  mind  Tressady  and  his  pirates  I 
are  upon  us  at  last,  those  same  rogues  that  dogged  the  | 
Faithftdl  Friend  over  seas.  Howbeit,  I  must  find  out  who  \ 
or  what  it  is  that  sings  this  hateful  —  "  ; 

I  stopped,  all  at  once,  for  the  voice  was  come  again, 
nearer,  louder  than  before,  and  singing  the  very  words  ' 
I  had  been  hearkening  for  and  dreading  to  hear :  j 

"  There  's  a  fine  Spanish  dame,  ; 

And  Joanna  's  her  name,  \ 

Shall  follow  wherever  ye  go ;  ] 

'Till  your  black  heart  shall  feel  1 

Your  own  cursed  steel:  j 
Black  Bartlemy  —  Bartlemy,  ho ! " 

"  You  heard !  "   said  I,  clapping  hand  on  knife.     *'  You   ! 

heard?"  i 

"  Yes  —  yes !  "    she  whispered,  her  embrace  tightening  J 


of  the  Voice  on  Deliverance  Salads   327 

until  I  might  feel  her  soft  body  all  a-tremble  against 
mine.     "But  you  are  safe  —  here,  Martin!" 

"  So  safe,"  said  I,  "  that  needs  must  I  go  and  find  out 
this  thing;  nay,  never  fear,  beloved;  life  hath  become  so 
infinite  precious  that  I  shall  be  a  very  coward  —  a  craven 
for  your  sake.  Plere  shall  be  no  fighting,  Damaris,  but 
go  I  must.  Meanwhile  do  you  wait  me  in  the  secret  cave 
and  let  down  the  ladder  only  to  my  whistle." 

But  now,  and  lying  all  a-tremble  in  my  embrace,  she 
brake  into  passionate  weeping,  and  I  powerless  to  com- 
fort her. 

"  Farewell  Happiness  !  "  she  sobbed.  "  Only  Martin, 
dear  Martin,  whatsoever  may  chance,  know  and  remem- 
ber always  that  I  loved  and  shall  love  you  to  the  end  of 
time ! " 

Then  (and  all  suddenly)  she  was  her  sweet,  calm  self 
again  and,  bringing  me  my  chain  shirt,  insisted  I  must 
don  it  there  and  then  beneath  my  fine  doublet,  the  which 
(to  please  her)  I  did.  Then  she  brought  me  one  of  the 
arquebuses,  but  this  I  put  by  as  too  cumbersome,  taking 
one  of  the  pistols  in  its  stead.  So,  armed  with  this,  to- 
gether with  my  hatchet  and  trusty  knife,  I  stepped  from 
the  cave  and  she  beside  me.  And  now  I  saw  she  had  dried 
her  tears,  and  the  hand  clasping  mine  was  firm  and  reso- 
lute, so  that  my  love  and  wonder  grew. 

"  Damaris,"  I  cried,  casting  me  on  my  knees  before  her, 
"  O  God,  how  I  do  love  thee !  "  And,  kneeling  thus,  I 
clasped  her  slender  loveliness,  kissing  the  robes  that  cov- 
ered her;  and  so,  rising  to  my  feet  I  hasted  away.  Yet  in 
a  little  I  turned  to  see  her  watching  me  but  with  hands 
clasped  as  one  in  prayer.  Now,  beholding  her  thus,  I  was 
seized  of  a  sudden  great  desire  to  go  back  to  give  her  that 
promise  and  swear  that  oath  she  sought  of  me,  viz:  that  I 
would  forego  my  vengeance  and  all  thought  thereof,  for- 
getting past  wrongs  in  the  wonder  of  her  love.  But,  even 
as  I  stood  hesitating,  she  waved  her  hand  in  farewell  and 
was  gone  into  the  cave. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII 
Of  the  Death— Dance  of  the  Silver  Woman 

A  SMALL  wind  had  sprung  up  that  came  in  fitful  gusts  and 
with  sound  very  mournful  and  desolate,  but  the  moon  was 
wonderfully  bright  and,  though  I  went  cautiously,  my 
hand  on  the  butt  of  the  pistol  in  my  girdle,  yet  ever  and 
always  at  the  back  of  my  mind  was  an  infinitude  of  joy 
by  reason  of  my  dear  lady's  love  for  me  and  the  wonder 
of  it. 

I  chose  me  a  devious  course,  avoiding  the  white  sands 
of  Deliverance  Beach,  trending  towards  that  fatal  cleft 
hard  by  Bartlemy's  tree  (the  which  we  had  come  to  call 
Skeleton  Cove)  though  why  I  must  go  thither  I  knew  no 
more  then  than  I  do  now. 

Thus  went  I  (my  eyes  and  ears  on  the  stretch)  ponder- 
ing what  manner  of  man  this  should  be  who  sang  words 
the  which  had  so  haunted  my  sick  dreams ;  more  than  once 
I  stopped  to  stare  round  about  upon  the  wide  expanse  of 
ocean,  dreading  and  half  expecting  to  behold  the  loom  of 
that  black  craft  which  had  dogged  us  over  seas. 

Full  of  these  disquieting  thoughts,  I  reached  the  cove 
and  began  to  descend  the  steep  side,  following  goat  tracks 
long  grown  familiar.  The  place  hereabouts  was  honey- 
combed with  small  caves  and  with  ledges  screened  by 
bushes  and  tangled  vines ;  and  here,  well  hid  from  observa- 
tion, I  paused  to  look  about  me.  But  (and  all  in  a 
moment)  I  was  down  on  my  knees,  for  from  somewhere 
close  by  came  the  sharp  snapping  of  a  dried  stick  beneath 
a  stealthy  foot. 

Very  still  I  waited,  every  nerve  a-tingle,  and  then,  forth 
into  the  moonlight,  sudden  and  silent  as  death,  a  man 
crept;  and  verily  if  ever  murderous  death  stood  in  human 


of  the  Death-Dance  329 

shape  it  was  before  me  now.  The  man  stood  half-crouch- 
ing, his  head  twisted  back  over  his  shoulder  as  watching 
one  who  followed ;  beneath  the  vivid  scarf  that  swathed  his 
temples  was  a  shock  of  red  hair  and  upon  his  cheek  the 
sweat  was  glittering;  then  he  turned  his  head,  and  I  knew 
him  for  the  man  Red  Andy,  that  same  I  had  fought  with 
aboard  ship.  For  a  long  moment  he  stood  thus,  staring 
back  ever  and  anon  across  Deliverance,  and  so  came  creep- 
ing into  the  shadow  of  the  cliff,  and  I  saw  the  moon  glint 
on  the  barrel  of  the  long  pistol  he  clutched,  as,  sinking 
down  behind  a  great  boulder,  he  waited  there  upon  his 
knees. 

Now  suddenly  as  I  lay  there  watching  Red  Andy's  mur- 
derous figure  and  strung  for  swift  action  I  started,  and 
(albeit  the  night  was  very  warm)  felt  a  chill  pass  over 
me  as,  loud  and  clear  upon  the  stilly  air,  rose  again  that 
full,  deep  voice  singing  hard  by  upon  Deliverance: 

"  Go  seek  ye  women  everywhere, 
North,  South,  lads.  East  or  West, 
Let  'em  be  dark,  let  'em  be  fair  _ 

My  Silver  Woman's  best; 
Blow  high,  blow  low. 
Where'er  ye  go 
The  Silver  Woman  's  best 

Aha! 
My  Silver  Woman  's  best !  " 

Thus  sang  the  unknown  who,  all  unwitting,  was  com- 
ing to  his  death;  sudden  as  it  came  the  voice  was  hushed, 
and  nought  to  hear  save  the  hiss  and  murmur  of  the  surge, 
and  I  saw  the  man  Andy  stir  restlessly  as  minute  after 
minute  dragged  by. 

The  rock  where  he  crouched  lay  at  the  mouth  of  this 
cove  towards  Deliverance,  it  being  one  of  many  that  lay 
piled  thereabout.  Now  chancing  to  look  towards  these 
scattered  rocks  (and  for  no  reason  in  the  world)  I  saw 
a  thing  that  held  me  as  it  were  spellbound  and  this  a  small 
enough  thing  in  itself,  —  a  sharp,  glittering  thing  that 


3  30     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

seemed  fast  caught  in  a  fissure  of  one  of  those  rocks,  —  and 
I  knew  it  for  a  steel  hook;  but  even  as  I  stared  at  it  the 
thing  was  gone  and  so  noiselessly  that  I  half-doubted  if 
I  had  seen  it  or  no.  But  —  out  from  the  shadow  of  this 
rock  flashed  something  that  whirled,  glittering  as  it  flew, 
and  Red  Andy,  starting  up  from  his  knees,  was  shaken 
by  a  fit  of  strange  and  awful  coughing  and  came  stumbling 
forward  so  that  I  could  see  his  chin  and  breast  bedabbled 
with  the  blood  that  spurted  from  his  gaping  mouth.  AU 
at  once  he  sank  to  his  knees  and  thence  to  his  face,  spread- 
ing his  arms  wide  like  one  very  weary,  but  with  the  moon- 
light flashing  back  from  that  which  stood  upright  betwixt 
his  shoulder  blades.  And  thus  I  saw  again  the  silver  haft 
of  the  dagger  that  was  shaped  like  to  a  woman,  saw  this 
silver  woman  dance  and  leap,  glittering,  ere  it  grew  ter- 
ribly still. 

Then  came  Roger  Tressady  from  the  shadows  and, 
stooping,  turned  up  the  dead  face  to  the  moon  and  tapped 
it  gently  with  his  shining  hook.  And  now,  whipping  out 
his  dagger,  he  bent  to  wipe  it  upon  the  dead  man's  shirt 
but  checked  suddenly  as  a  pebble  started  beneath  my 
foot  and  stooped  thus  he  glared  up  beneath  thick  brows 
as  I  rose  up  with  pistol  levelled  and  the  moon  bright  upon 
my  face;  whereupon  he  leaped  backwards,  uttering  a 
choking  cry. 

"  Black  Bartlemy  —  by  God !  "  he  gasped  and  let  fall 
his  reeking  dagger  upon  the  sand ;  and  so  we  stood  staring 
on  each  other  and  with  the  dead  man  sprawling  betwixt  us. 

For  maybe  a  full  minute  we  fronted  each  other  unmov- 
ing  and  with  never  a  word ;  and  thus  at  last  I  beheld  this 
man  Tressady. 

A  tall,  lusty  fellow,  square  of  face  and  with  pale  eyes 
beneath  a  jut  of  shaggy  brow.  A  vivid  neckerchief  was 
twisted  about  his  head,  and  in  his  hairy  ears  swung  great 
gold  rings;  his  powerful  right  hand  was  clenched  to 
knotted  fist ;  in  place  of  his  left  glittered  that  deadly  hook. 

'*  Sink  me ! "  he  said  at  last,  drawing  clenched  fist 
across  his  brow.     **  Sink  me,  but  ye  gave  me  a  turn,  my 


of  the  Death-Dance  331 

lord !  Took  ye  for  a  ghost,  I  did,  the  ghost  of  a  shipmate 
o'  mine,  one  as  do  lie  buried  yonder,  nought  but  poor 
bones  —  aye,  rotten  bones  —  as  this  will  be  soon !  "  Here 
he  spumed  the  dead  man  with  his  foot.  "  'T  is  black 
rogue  this,  my  lord,  one  as  would  ha'  made  worm's-meat 
o'  poor  Tressady  —  aye,  a  lump  o'  murdered  clay  like  my 
shipmate  Bartlemy  yonder  —  but  for  this  Silver  Woman 
o'  mine ! "  Here  he  stooped  for  the  dagger  and,  having 
cleaned  it  in  the  sand,  held  it  towards  me  upon  his  open 
palm.  "  Aha,  here 's  woman  hath  never  failed  me  yet ! 
She 's  faithful  and  true,  friend,  faithful  and  true,  this 
Silver  Woman  o'  mine.  But  't  is  an  ill  world,  my  master, 
and  full  o'  bloody  rogues  like  this  sly  dog  as  stole  ashore 
to  murder  me  —  the  fool!  Oh,  'tis  a  black  and  bloody 
world  —  " 

"  So  it  is  !  "  quoth  I,  'twixt  shut  teeth.  "  And  all  the 
worse  for  the  lik^s  o'  you,  Roger  Tressady ! " 

"  So  ho  —  he  knoweth  my  name  then !  "  says  Tressady, 
rubbing  shaven  chin  with  silver  dagger  hilt  and  viewing 
me  with  his  pale,  keen  gaze.  "  But  do  I  know  him  now  — 
do  I.?" 

"I  know  you  for  pirate  and  damned  murderer,  Roger 
Tressady ;  and  so  shall  you  quit  this  island  this  very  hour 
or  else  stay  here  to  rot  along  with  Bartlemy  and  Red 
Andy ! " 

Now  at  this  (and  all  careless  of  my  pistol)  he  drew  a 
slow  pace  nearer,  great  head  outthrust,  peering. 

"Why,"  said  he  at  last,  "why  — bleed  me!  If— if  it 
are  n't  —  aye  't  is  • —  Martin !  Why,  for  sure  't  is  my 
bonnie  Marty  as  saved  my  skin  time  and  again  aboard  the 
Faithfidl  Friend!  Though  ye  go  mighty  fine,  lad,  mighty 
fine !  But  good  luck  t'  ye  and  a  fair  wind,  say  I ! "  And 
thrusting  the  dagger  into  his  girdle,  he  nodded  mighty 
affable.  "  But  look  'ee  now,  Marty,  here 's  me  wishing  ye 
well  and  you  wi'  a  barker  in  your  fist;  'tis  no  fashion  to 
greet  a  shipmate,  I'm  thinking — " 

"  Enough  words !  "  said  I,  stepping  up  to  him.  "  Do 
you  go  —  alive,  or  stay  here  dead  —  which.'"' 


332     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

"  Split  me !  "  said  he,  never  stirring.  "  But  't  is  small 
choice  you  offer,  Marty  — " 

"  My  name  's  Martin !  " 

**  And  a  curst  good  name  too,  Marty.  But  I  've  no 
mind  to  be  worm's-meat  yet-a-while  —  no !  Come,  what 's 
your  quarrel  wi'  me?  First  Andy  would  murder  me  and 
now  'tis  you  —  why  for?  Here's  me  wi'  a  heart  o'  gold 
t'  cherish  a  friend  and  never  a  friend  t'  cherish !  What 's 
your  quarrel  lad,  what?" 

"  Quarrel  enough,  what  with  your  drugging  me  and 
murder  aboard  ship  —  " 

*' Avast,  ladl  Here's  unchancy  talk,  ill  and  unman- 
nered ! " 

"You  murdered  divers  men  aboard  the  FaithfuU 
Friend — " 

"  Only  three,  Marty,  only  three  —  poor  souls  !  Though 
yours  is  a  foul  word  for  't.  I  took  'em  off,  lad,  took  'em 
off  as  a  matter  o'  policy.  I  've  never  took  off  any  yet  as 
I  was  n't  forced  to  by  circumstance.  Look  'ee,  there 's 
men  in  this  world  born  to  be  took  off  by  some  one  or 
other,  and  they  always  come  a-drifting  across  my  hawse 
and  get  took  off  accordingly;  but  don't  blame  me,  lad, 
don't.  And  as  for  a-dnigging  of  ye,  Marty,  true  again! 
But  love  me !  What  was  I  to  do  ?  But  I  did  n't  take  you 
off,  lad,  no,  nor  never  shall,  unless  you  and  policy  force 
me  so  to  do.  I  'm  no  murderer  bom  —  like  Adam  —  curse 
him !  Clap  me  alongside  Adam  and  I  'm  a  turtle  dove,  a 
babe  for  innocence  and  a  lamb  for  meekness !  There  never 
was  such  a  murderer  bom  into  this  wicked  world  as  Adam 
Penfeather,  with  a  curse!  'Twas  he  as  murdered  Black 
Bartlemy  and  nine  sweet,  bright  lads  arter  him,  murdered 
'em  here,  one  by  one,  and  wi'  a  parchment  rove  about  the 
neck  of  each  poor  corpse,  Marty.  'T  was  he  as  drove  their 
mates  out  to  sea  to  perish  in  a  leaky  boat ;  ask  Abnegation 
Mings !  'T  was  him  nigh  murdered  me  more  than  once, 
aye  me,  lad,  as  can't  be  killed,  according  to  the  prophecy 
of  the  poor  mad  soul  aboard  the  old  Delight.  Why  Adam, 
curse  him,  has  murdered  more  men  than  you  have  years. 


Of  the  Death-Dance  333 

And  talking  of  him,  how  cometh  it  you  are  n't  blown  t'  hell 
along  wi'  him  and  the  rest?  " 

*'  Do  you  tell  me  Adam  is  dead?  " 

"  Blown  up  aboard  the  Faithfull  Friend,  lad.  Just  after 
we  run  her  aboard  and  grappled ;  aye,  blew  up  she  did  and 
nigh  took  us  wi'  her.  Aha,  but  Adam's  dead  at  last,  curse 
him !    Unless  he  can't  be  killed  either,  unless  he  is  —  " 

Here,  and  all  at  once,  he  turned  to  stare  away  across 
Deliverance,  then  shrinking,  cowered  towards  me  as  in  sud- 
den terror,  stabbing  at  the  empty  air  with  his  glittering 
hook : 

"  Ha  —  what 's  yon ! "  cried  he  in  awful  voice ;  and  I, 
turning  whither  his  glaring  eyes  stared  (  and  half-dreading 
to  behold  my  lady),  had  the  pistol  wrenched  from  my  hold 
and  the  muzzle  under  my  ear  all  in  a  moment;  and  stood 
scowling  and  defenceless  like  the  vast  fool  I  was. 

"  Split  me ! "  said  he,  tapping  me  gently  with  his  hook. 
"  Oh,  blind  me  if  I  thought  ye  such  a  lubberly  fool !  So 
old  a  trick,  Marty !  Now  look  'ee,  were  I  a  murderer  and 
loved  it  —  like  Adam,  curse  him,  I  should  pull  trigger ! 
But  being  Roger  Tressady  wi'  a  heart  o'  gold,  I  say  sit 
down,  lad,  sit  down  and  let  us  talk,  friend,  let  us  talk. 
Come — sit  down!  Never  mind  Andy,  he  shan't  trouble 
us ! "  So  with  the  pistol  at  my  ear  we  sat  down  side  by 
side  and  the  dead  man  sprawling  at  our  feet. 

"  Now  first,  Marty  lad,  how  come  ye  here  alone  on 
Bartlemy's  island  —  how?" 

But  sitting  thus,  chin  on  fist,  I  stared  down  at  Red 
Andy's  stiflfening  body  silent  as  he,  I  being  too  full  of 
fierce  anger  and  bitter  scorn  of  my  folly  for  speech. 

"  Come,    come,    Marty,   be    sociable ! "    says    Tressady, 
tapping  my  cheek  with  the  pistol  muzzle.     "Was  it  Pen- 
feather  sent  ye  hither  t'  give  an  eye  to  —  the  treasure? 
Was  it?" 
«  Aye ! " 

"  'T  would  be  the  night  he  made  the  crew  drunk  and 
spoiled  my  plans.  Ha,  't  was  like  him  —  a  cunning  rogue ! 
But   for  this  I'd  have  had  the  ship   and  him  and  the 


3  34     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure  ^ 

treasure.    Oh,  a  right  cunning,  fierce  rogue  was  Adam  and  j 
none  to  match  him  but  me."  ! 

"  But  he  nearly  did  for  you  once ! "  says  I  bitterly.  ; 
"  And  he  such  a  small,  timid  man ! " 

"Look'ee,  Martin,  when  Adam  grows  timid,  'tis  time 
for  your  bold,  desperate  fellows  to  beware !    But  he 's  dead 
at  last,  though  I  'd  ha'  felt  more  comfort,  aye,  I  'd  ha'  v 
took,  it  kinder,  had  he  been  took  oif  by  my  Silver  Woman 
—  or  this ! "     Here  he  thrust  his  hook  before  my  eyes. 
"It  ain't  a  pretty  thing,  Martin,  not  pretty,  no  —  but  i 
'tis  useful  at  all  times  and  serves  to  shepherd  my  lambs 
wi'  now  and  then ;  't  is  likewise  a  mighty  persuading  argu-  i 
ment,  but,  and  best  of  all  —  'tis  sure,  lad,  sure.     So  I'd 
ha'  took  it  kinder  had  I  watched  him  go  off  on  this,  lad,  ' 
this.    My  hook  for  my  enemies  and  for  my  friends  a  heart  ' 
o'  gold!     And,  talking  o'  gold,  Marty,  what  —  what  o* 
Bartlemy's  Treasure.''" 

"  You  are  heartily  welcome  to  it,  for  all  me."  i 

*'Why,  that's  spoke  manly  and  like  a  friend,  rot  me  | 
but  it  is  !    And  now  where  might  it  lie,  Marty,  where?  " 

"  I  've  no  idea."  ; 

"  What,  ha'n't  ye  found  it,  lad.?  "  J 

"  No ! "  '  j 

"  Not  even  —  seen  it,  then?  '* 

"  No ! "  ! 

"  Why,  think  o'  that  now,  think  o'  that !    And  you  wi'  —  < 
a  fortun'  o'  pearls  on  you,  Marty.    These  pearl  studs  and 
buttons,  lad.     Pearls  —  ha,  pearls  was  meat  and  drink  to 
Bartlemy.     And  here 's  you  wi'  pearls  I  've  seen  on  Bart-  ; 
lemy  many  a  time.    And  yet  you  ha'n't  found  the  treasure, 
says  you.     If  I  was  a  passionate  man,  Marty,  I  should 
call  ye  a  liar,  says  I.    Howsoever,  what  I  do  say  is  —  as  i 
you  've  forgot,   and  very  right  and  proper.     But  we  'm  i 
friends,  you  and  me,  so  far,  and  so,  'twixt  friends,  I  ask  i 
you  to  think  again  until  you  remember  and  to  think  hard,  ^ 
lad,  hard."  j 

Now  as  I  sat  (and  miserably  enough)  staring  down  at  i 
my  jewelled  buttons  that  seemed  to  leer  up  at  me  like  so  ■ 


of  the  Death-Dance  335 

many  small,  malevolent  eyes,  upon  the  air  rose  a  distant 
stir  that  grew  and  grew  to  sound  of,  voices  with  the  creak 
and  rumble  of  oars. 

"Here  come  my  lambs  at  last,  Marty,  and  among  'em 
some  o'  the  lads  as  sailed  with  Bartlemy  aboard  the  De- 
light. There's  Sam  Spraggons  for  one  —  Smiling  Sam 
as  you'll  mind  aboard  the  Faithfull  Friend.  Now  the 
Smiler  knoweth  many  and  divers  methods  of  persuasion, 
Marty  lad,  tricks  learned  of  the  Indians  as  shall  persuade 
a  man  to  anything  in  this  world.  But  first,  seeing  't  is  you, 
Martin,  as  played  '  bonnet '  to  me  and  saved  my  life  aboard 
ship,  though  all  unknowing,  here 's  my  offer ;  show  me  how 
to  come  by  Bartlemy's  Treasure  as  is  mine  —  mine  by 
rights ;  let  me  get  my  hands  on  to  it  and  none  the  wiser, 
and  there  shall  be  share  for  you,  Marty  lad,  share  for 
you.  Otherwise  I  must  let  Sam  try  to  persuade  you  to 
remember  where  it  heth.     Come,  what  d'ye  say.'"' 

"  What  —  you  '11  torture  me  then  ?  " 

"  If  I  must,  friend,  if  I  must.  'T  is  left  for  you  to 
say." 

"Why,  then,  'twill  be  labour  in  vain,  Tressady,  for  I 
swear  I  know  nought  of  this  treasure  — " 

"  Sit  still,  lad,  sit  still ! "  said  he,  clapping  the  pistol  to 
my  ear  again.  "  Though  a  fool  in  many  ways,  Marty, 
you  're  proper  enough  man  to  look  at,  and  't  will  be  pity 
to  cripple  ye !  Aye,  there  won't  be  much  left  when  Sam 
is  done  wi'  you,  more 's  the  pity." 

Hereupon  he  hailed  loudly  and  was  answered  from  the 
lagoon  and,  glancing  thither,  I  saw  two  boats  crowded  with 
men  pulling  for  the  beach. 

"  A  wildish  company,  Martin,  desperate  fellows  as  ever 
roved  the  main,  as  I  do  love  no  more  than  they  love  me. 
So  say  the  word  and  we  '11  share  Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 
betwixt  us,  just  you  and  me,  lad,  me  and  you!  Come, 
what 's  your  will?  "  But  shaking  my  head  (and  hopelessly 
enough),  I  set  my  teeth  and  watched  the  coming  of  ray 
tormentors. 

And  foremost  was  a  short,  plump,  bright-eyed  man  who 


33^     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure  j 

lacked  an  ear,  and  at  his  elbows  two  others,  the  one  a  lank 
rogue  with  a  patch  over  one  eye,  the  third  a  tall,  hairy  j 
fellow. 

And  observing  them  as  they  came,  I  knew  them  for  those  i 
same  three  rogues  I  had  fought  with  in  the  hedge  tavern  j 
beside  Pembury  Hill  on  that  night  I  had  first  seen  my  dear  j 
lady.      Hard  upon  their  heels   came  a  riotous   company 
variously  armed  and  accoutred,  who  forthwith  thronged  ] 
upon  me,  pushing  and  jostling  for  sight  of  me,  desecrating  | 
the  quiet  night  with  their  hoarse  and  clamourous  ribaldry.  ' 
Unlovely  fellows  indeed  and  clad  in  garments   of  every  ' 
shape  and  cut,  from  stained  homespun  and  tattered  shirts  \ 
to  velvet  coats  be-laced  and  gold-braided;  and  beholding 
this  tarnished  and  sordid  finery,  these  clothes  looted  from 
sinking  ships  and  blazing  towns,  I  wondered  vaguely  what 
had  become  of  their  late  owners.  ; 

At  gesture  from  Tressady  I  was  dragged  to  my  feet 
and  my  arms  jerked,  twisted  and  bound  before  me  cross- 
wise and  so  stood,  helpless  and  in  much  painful  discomfort,  ^ 
whiles  Tressady  harangued  his  fellows,  tapping  me  gently  i 
with  his  hook.  ! 

"  Look  'ee,  my  bullies,"  quoth  he,  "  I  promised  ye  gold  | 
a-plenty,  and  here,  somewhere  on  this  island,  it  lieth  wait- 
ing to  be  found.  It  needeth  but  for  tliis  fool  Martin  here,  '< 
as  some  o*  you  will  mind  for  Adam  Penfeather's  comrade, 
with  a  curse,  it  needeth  but  for  him  to  speak,  I  say,  and  j 
in  that  same  hour  each  one  o'  you  may  fill  your  clutch  wi'  i 
more  treasure  than  ever  came  out  o'  Eldorado  or  Manoa.  i 
So  speak  he  must  and  shall  —  eh,  bullies,  eh?  "  ! 

"  Aye,  aye,  Cap'n !  "  they  roared,  pressing  upon  me  with  | 
a  shaking  of  fists  and  glitter  of  eager  steel.  ■ 

"  Twist  his  thumbs,  Cap'n !  "  cried  one.  i 

"  Slit  his  nose !  "  roared  another.  ; 

"  Trim  his  y'eres  ! "  cried  a  third.  But  Tressady  silenced  ( 
them  with  a  flourish  of  his  hook.  \ 

"  Hark  'ee,  lads !  "  said  he.  "  You  all  mean  well,  but  \ 
you  're  bunglers ;  here 's  a  little  delicate  matter  as  none  j 
can  handle  like  the  Smiler.     There's  none  like  Sam  can 


of  the  Death-Dance  337 

make  a  man  give  tongue !  Pass  the  word  for  Smiling  Sam ! 
Step  forward,  Sammy." 

Hereupon  cometh  the  great,  fat  fellow  Spraggons  who 
had  been  bo's'n's  mate  aboard  the  Faithftdl  Friend,  forc- 
ing his  way  with  vicious  elbows  and  mighty  anxious  to 
come  at  me. 

"  Oh,  love  my  limbs  !  "  cried  he  in  his  high-pitched  voice 
and  blinking  liis  hairless  lids  at  me.  "  Oh,  cherish  my 
guts ;  leave  him  to  me,  Cap'n !  Sam 's  the  lad  to  make  this 
yer  cock  crow.  See  now  —  a  good,  sharp  knife  'neath  the 
finger  or  toenails  —  drew  slow,  mates,  slow !  Or  a  hot  iron 
close  agen  his  eyes  is  good.  Or  boiling  water  poured  in 
his  yeres  might  serve.  Then  —  aha,  Cap'n!  I  know  a 
dainty  little  trick,  a  small  cord,  d'  ye  see,  twisted  athwart 
his  head  just  a-low  the  brows,  twisted  and  twisted  —  as 
shall  start  his  eyes  out  right  pretty  to  see.  I  mind  too  as 
Lollonais  had  a  trick  o'  bursting  a  man's  guts  wi'  water — " 

"  Bring  him  to  the  beach  yonder ! "  says  Tressady, 
watching  me  ever  with  his  pale  eyes.  "  There  shall  be 
more  room  for 't  yonder !  " 

So  they  haled  me  along  betwixt  them  and  with  huge 
merriment;  but  scarce  were  we  out  of  the  cove  and  hard 
beside  Bartlemy's  tree  than  I  started  to  the  vicious  prick 
of  a  knife  and,  whirling  about  despite  the  fierce  hands  that 
sought  to  hold  me,  I  saw  Smiling  Sam  about  to  stab  me 
again.  But  now,  as  I  strove  with  my  reeling  captors,  was 
a  flicker  of  vicious  steel  as  Tressady  sprang  and,  whipping 
his  hook  beneath  the  great  fellow's  belt,  whirled  Smiling 
Sam  from  his  feet,  despite  his  prodigious  weight,  and 
forthwith  trampled  upon  him. 

"  So-ho,  my  merry  lad,"  quoth  Tressady,  glaring  down 
into  Smiling  Sam's  convulsed  face.  "  And  must  ye  be  at  it 
afore  I  give  the  word .'*  Who 's  captain  here — who.?  Come, 
speak  up,  my  roaring  boy !  '*  And  he  thrust  his  hook  be- 
neath the  Smiler's  great,  flabby  chin. 

"Mercy,  Cap'n  —  mercy!"  cried  Spraggons,  his  high- 
pitched  voice  rising  to  a  pitiful  squeal.  "  Not  the  hook, 
Cap'n  —  oh.  Lord  love  me  —  not  the  hook!" 


33 8     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

"  Hook?  And  why  not,  Sam,  why  not?  'T is  sharp  and 
clean  and  quick  and  hath  done  the  business  o'  nicer  rogues 
than  you,  bully,  aye  and  better,  Sam,  better  — " 

"  Oh,  Cap'n  —  for  God's  sake  —  " 

"  Who  're  you  to  call  on  God  so  glib,  Sammy  ?  'T  is 
marvel  He  don't  strike  you  blind,  lad.  Or  there 's  your 
innards,  Sam,  here's  that  may  whip  out  your  liver,  lad  — 
So ! "  I  saw  the  glitter  of  the  hook,  heard  Smiling  Sam's 
gasping  scream  as  the  steel  bit  into  him,  and  then  Tres- 
sady  was  on  his  feet,  smihng  round  upon  his  awed  and 
silent  company. 

"  Look  'ee,  bullies ! "  said  he,  pointing  to  the  Smiler's 
inanimate  form.  "  Here 's  poor  Sam  all  swounded  away  at 
touch  o'  my  hook  like  any  woman  —  and  him  my  bo's'n ! 
Pshaw !  I  want  a  man ! "  Here  he  stooped  and,  wrench- 
ing the  silver  pipe  from  Smiling  Sam's  fat  throat,  stared 
from  one  shuffling  rogue  to  another.  "  Step  forward, 
Abner,"  said  he  at  last.  "  Come,  you  '11  do  —  you  're  a 
prime  sailorman.     You  're  my  bo's'n  henceforth." 

But  now  Smiling  Sam,  awaking  from  his  swoon,  moaned 
feebly  and  sat  up. 

"  Not  the  hook,  Cap'n !  "  he  wailed.    "  Oh,  not  that  —  " 

"  No,  Smiler,  no ;  I  keep  it  for  better  men.  Disobey  me 
again  and  I  '11  drownd  ye  in  a  puddle.  And  now  up  wi' 
you,  Sammy,  up  wi'  you  and  stand  by  to  teach  Martin 
here  how  to  talk." 

"  Aye,  aye,  Cap'n  —  aye,  aye !  "  says  the  gross  fellow, 
rising  nimbly  enough,  whiles  his  comrades  closed  about  us 
expectant,  and,  glancing  from  me  to  Tressady  where  he 
had  seated  himself  on  a  boulder.  "  Here  will  do !  "  said  he, 
pointing  to  a  brilliant  strip  of  moonlit  sand  midway  be- 
twixt the  shadows  of  the  cliff  and  Black  Bartlemy's 
tree.  *'  On  his  back,  hearties,  and  grapple  him  fast ;  he 's 
strong  wellnigh  as  I  am.  Now  his  hand,  Smiler,  his  right 
hand." 

"  Aye,  aye,  Cap'n ! "  quoth  the  fellow,  kneeling  above 
me  where  I  lay  helpless.  "Will  I  cut  it  adrift  —  slow 
like?  "     And  as  he  flourished  his  knife,  I  saw  a  trickle  of 


of  the  Death-Dance  339 

saliva  at  the  comers  of  his  great,  loose  mouth.  "  Off  at 
the  wrist,  Cap'n,  or  fingers  first?" 

"  No,  fool !    His  thumb-nail  first  —  try  that ! " 

Sweating  and  with  every  nerve  a-quiver,  I  watched  that 
cruel  knife,  holding  my  breath  in  expectation  of  the  com- 
ing agony,  and  then — from  the  black  gloom  of  the  cliff 
beyond  burst  a  sudden  echoing  roar,  I  heard  the  whine 
of  a  bullet,  and  immediately  all  was  confusion  and  uproar, 
shouts  of  dismay  and  a  wild  rush  for  shelter  from  this 
sudden  attack.  But  as  I  struggled  to  my  knees,  Tres- 
sady's  great  hand  gripped  my  throat  and,  dragging  me 
behind  a  boulder,  he  pinned  me  there. 

"  Stand  by,  lads ! "  he  roared.  "  Level  at  the  cliff 
yonder  but  let  no  man  pull  trigger!  Wait  till  they  fire 
again  and  mark  the  flash ! " 

Helpless  in  my  bonds  and  crushed  beneath  Tressady's 
knee,  I  heard  a  stir  and  rustle  to  right  and  left  of  me,  the 
click  of  cocking  triggers  and  thereafter  —  silence.  And 
marking  the  gleam  of  pistol  and  musket  barrel,  I  fell  to  an 
agony  of  dread,  well  knowing  whence  that  merciful  shot 
had  come.  For  mayhap  five  minutes  nought  was  to  hear 
save  the  rustle  of  stealthy  arm  or  leg  and  the  sound  of 
heavy  breathing,  until  at  length  one  spoke,  low-voiced: 

"What  now,  Captain.?    Us  can't  bide  here  all  night." 

*'How  many  are  we,  Purdy.''" 

"  Thirty  and  nine.  Captain." 

"  Then  do  you  take  ten  and  scale  the  starboard  cliff 
and  you  Abner  with  other  ten  take  the  cliff  to  larboard. 
I'll  bide  here  wi'  the  rest,  and  so  we'll  have  'em — " 

*'  Them  cliffs  be  perilous  high,  Cap'n !  " 

"  My  hook  is  more  perilous,  Tom  Day !  Off  wi'  you, 
ye  dogs,  or  I  '11  show  ye  a  liver  yet  and  be  —  " 

He  stopped  all  at  once  as,  faint  at  first  yet  most  dread- 
ful to  hear,  there  rose  a  man's  cry,  chilling  the  flesh  with 
horror,  a  cry  that  waxed  and  swelled  louder  and  louder 
to  a  hideous  screaming  that  shrilled  upon  the  night  and, 
sinking  to  an  awful  bubbling  murmur,  was  gone. 

Up  sprang  Tressady  to  stare  away  across  Deliverance 


\ 

i 

340     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

whence  this  dreadful  cry  had  come,  and  I  saw  his  hook  1 
tap-tapping  at  his  great  chin;  then  beyond  these  shining  ; 
sands  was  the  thunderous  roar  of  a  great  gun,  a  furious  '■ 
rattle  of  small  arms  that  echoed  and  reechoed  near  and  | 
far,  and  thereafter  single  shots  in  rapid  succession.  Here-  I 
upon  rose  shouts  and  cries  of  dismay.  '' 

"  Lord  love  us,  we  'm  beset !  Oh,  Cap'n,  we  be  took  fore  1 
and  aft.  What  shall  us  do,  Cap'n  ?  Yon  was  a  gun.  What  ' 
o'  the  ship,  Cap'n  —  what  o'  the  ship .''  " 

"  Yonder  —  look  yonder !  Who  comes .''  "  cried  Tres-  \ 
sady,  pointing  towards  Deliverance  Beach  with  his  glitter-  | 
ing  hook. 

Twisting  my  head  as  I  lay,  I  looked  whither  he  pointed  | 
and  saw  one  that  ran  towards  us,  yet  in  mighty  strange 
fashion,  reeling  in  wide  zigzags  like  a  drunken  man ;  and  ' 
sometimes  he  checked  only  to  come  on  again,  and  some- 
times he  fell  only  to  struggle  up.  ; 

"  By  God  —  it 's  Abnegation !  "  cried  Tressady.  "  'T  is  j 
my  comrade  Mings !  Look  to  the  prisoner,  ye  dogs  —  j 
you  Tom  Purdy!  I'm  for  Abnegation!"  And  off  he  | 
went  at  a  run.  At  his  going  was  mighty  talk  and  discus-  ' 
sion  what  they  should  do,  some  men  being  for  stealing  ; 
away  in  the  boats,  others  for  taking  to  the  woods,  and  ' 
all  clean  forgetting  me  where  I  lay.  But  suddenly  they  | 
fell  silent  all,  for  Abnegation  was  hailing  feebly  and  was  ' 
come  so  nigh  that  we  might  see  him,  his  face  all  bloody,  j 
his  knees  bending  under  him  with  weakness  as  he  stumbled  i 
on.  Suddenly,  beholding  Tressady,  he  stopped  and  hailed  • 
liim  in  wild,  gasping  voice:  \ 

"Roger  —  oh,  Roger!  The  devil's  aboard  us,  Roger  ; 
—  Penfeather  's  on  us  —  Penfeather  's  took  the  ship  —  I  'm  ' 
all  that's  left  alive!  They  killed  Sol  first  —  did  ye —  \ 
hear  him  die,  Roger?    Oh,  did  ye  hear  —  " 

I  saw  him  fall  and  Tressady  run  to  lift  him,  and  watched  | 
these  pirate  rogues  as,  with  oaths  and  cries  of  dismay,  I 
they  hasted  thither  to  throng  about  the  two ;  then,  rolling  1 
into  the  nearest  shadow  I  struggled  to  my  feet  and  found  i 
myself  beneath  the  spreading  branches  of  Bartlemy's  tree,  j 


of  the  Death-Dance  341 

And  now,  as  I  strove  desperately  against  the  rope  that  bit 
into  the  flesh  of  me,  I  felt  the  rope  fall  away,  felt  two  soft 
arms  close  about  me,  and  a  soft  breath  on  my  cheek. 

"  Martin  —  oh,  thank  God !  '*  Turning,  I  caught  my 
dear,  brave  lady  to  my  heart.  Heedless  of  aught  else 
in  the  world  beside,  I  clasped  her  in  my  aching  arms  and 
kissed  her  until  she  stayed  me  and  showing  me  where  stood 
our  enemies,  a  wild  disordered  company,  took  my  hand 
and  begun  to  run.  Reaching  the  cliff,  we  climbed  together 
nor  stayed  until  she  had  brought  me  to  a  little  cave  where 
lay  an  arquebus  together  with  bandoliers.  "  I  tried  to 
reload  it,  dear  Martin,  but  'twas  vain  —  my  poor,  silly 
hands  shook  so.  For  oh,  my  dear,  I  —  heard  them  —  saw 
them  and  —  tliought  I  should  run  mad  —  oh,  Martin  my 
love!" 

So  now  whiles  I  loaded  the  arquebus,  I  told  her  as  well 
as  I  might  something  of  what  I  thought  concerning  her 
brave  spirit,  of  my  undying  love  for  her,  though  in  fashion 
very  lame  and  halting.  Thereafter,  the  weapon  being 
ready,  I  placed  it  near  and  sitting  within  the  gloom  of  this 
little  cave  I  took  my  love  into  my  arms,  her  dear  head 
pillowed  on  my  breast,  and  kissed  the  tremors  from  her 
sweet  mouth  and  the  horror  from  her  eyes.  And  thus 
with  her  arms  about  my  neck  and  her  soft,  smooth  cheek 
against  mine,  we  waited  for  what  was  to  be. 


CHAPTER   XXXrV 

Penfeather  Reappeaes 

In  the  shadow  of  the  cliff  below  our  hiding  place  crept 
divers  of  these  pirate  rogues  and,  crouching  there  cheek 
by  jowl,  fell  to  a  hoarse  mutter  of  talk,  yet  all  too  low 
for  us  to  catch ;  but  presently  there  brake  out  a  voice  high- 
pitched,  the  which  I  knew  for  that  of  Smiling  Sam. 

"  We  'm  done,  lads,  I  tell  ye.  Oh^  love  my  lights  — 
we'm  done!  'Tis  the  end  o'  we  since  Penfeather  hath 
took  the  ship  —  and  here 's  us  shall  lie  marooned  to  perish 
o*  plagues,  or  Indian-savages,  or  hunger  unless,  lads, 
unless  —  " 

"  Unless  what,  Smiler.'' "  questioned  one  eagerly. 

*'  Unless  we  'm  up  and  doing.  Penfeather  do  lack  for 
men;  Mings  says  he  counted  but  ten  at  most  when  they 
boarded  him!     Well,  mates  —  what  d*ye  say.?" 

**  Ha,  d'  ye  mean  fight,  Smiler.''  Fall  on  'em  by  surprise 
and  recapture  the  ship  —  ha?" 

"  Oh,  bless  my  guts  —  no !  Penfeather  are  n't  to  be 
caught  so  —  not  him!  He'll  ha'  warped  out  from  the 
anchorage  by  this !  But  he  be  short-handed  to  work  the 
vessel  overseas ;  't  is  a-seekin'  o'  likely  lads  and  prime 
sailormen  is  Penfeather,  and  we  sits  on  these  y'ere  sands. 
Well,  mates,  on  these  y'ere  sands  we  be,  but  what's  to 
keep  us  on  these  y'ere  sands .f*  The  boats  lie  yonder! 
Well.?  " 

"  Where  be  you  heading  off  now,  SmUer.?  Where 's  the 
wind.?     Talk  plain!" 

"Why,  look  'ee  all,  if  Penfeather  wants  men,  as  wants 
'em  he  doth,  what 's  to  stay  or  let  us  from  rowing  out  to 
Penfeather  soft  and  quiet  and  'listing  ourselves  along  of 


Penfeather  Reappears         343 

Penfeather  and  watch  our  chance  t'  heave  Penfeather  over- 
board and  go  a-roving  on  our  own  account  ?     Well  ?  " 

At  this  was  sudden  silence,  and  thereafter  a  fierce  mut- 
ter of  whispering  lost  all  at  once  in  the  clatter  of  arms 
and  breathless  scuffling  as  they  scrambled  to  their  feet; 
for  there,  within  a  yard  of  them,  stood  Tressady,  hand 
grasping  the  dagger  in  his  belt,  his  glittering  hook  tapping 
softly  at  his  great  chin  as  he  stared  from  one  to  other  of 
them. 

"  Ha,  my  pretty  lambs  !  '*  said  he,  coming  a  pace  nearer. 
"  Will  ye  skulk  then ;  w411  ye  skulk  with  your  fools'  heads 
together?  What  now;  mutiny  is  it,  mutiny.''  And  what 's 
come  o'  my  prisoner,  Martin;  I  don't  spy  him  here- 
abouts?" 

Now  at  this  they  shuffled,  staring  about  and  upon  each 
other  and  (as  I  think)  missed  me  for  the  first  time. 

"You,  Tom  Purdy,  step  forward  —  so!  Now  where 's 
the  prisoner  as  I  set  i'  your  charge ;  where,  my  merry  bird, 
where  ?  " 

The  fellow  shrank  away,  muttering  some  sullen  re- 
joinder that  ended  in  a  choking  scream  as  Tressady 
sprang.  Then  I  (knowing  what  was  toward)  clasped  my 
lady  to  me,  covering  her  ears  that  she  might  not  hear 
those  ghastly  bubbling  groans,  yet  felt  her  sweet  body 
shaking  with  the  horror  that  shook  me. 

"So  —  there's  an  end — o'  Tom  Purdy,  my  bullies!" 
gasped  Tressady,  stooping  to  clean  his  hook  in  the  sand. 
"And  I  did  it  —  look'ee,  because  he  failed  me  once,  d'ye 
see!  Who  '11  be  next?  Who's  for  mutiny  —  you  Sammy, 
you  —  ha  ?  " 

"No  —  no,  Cap'n  !  "  piped  Smiling  Sam.  "Us  do  be 
but  contriving  o'  ways  and  means,  seein'  as  Penfeather  do 
ha'  took  our  ship,  curse  him  ! " 

"And  what  though  he  has?  'Tis  we  have  the  island, 
and  't  is  on  this  island  lieth  Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure, 
and  't  is  the  treasure  we  're  after !  As  to  ways  and  means, 
here  we  be  thirty  and  eight  to  Penfeather's  fourteen,  and 
in  a  little  't  will  be  dark  and  the  guns  shan't  serve  'em  and 


344     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

them  —  aha,  look  yonder!  The  fools  be  coming  into  our 
very  clutches !  To  cover,  lads,  and  look  to  your  primings 
and  wait  my  word." 

Now  glancing  whither  he  pointed,  I  saw,  above  the 
adjacent  headland,  the  tapering  spars  of  a  ship.  Slowly 
she  hove  into  view,  bolt-sprit,  forecastle,  waist  and  poop, 
until  she  was  plain  to  view,  and  I  knew  her  for  that  same 
black  ship  that  fouled  us  in  Deptford  Pool.  She  was 
standing  in  for  the  island  under  her  lower  courses  only, 
although  the  wind  was  very  light,  but  on  she  came,  and 
very  slowly,  until  she  was  so  near  that  I  might  see  the  very 
muzzles  of  her  guns.  Suddenly,  with  a  cheery  yo-ho-ing, 
her  yards  were  braced  round,  her  anchor  was  let  go,  and 
she  brought  to  opposite  Skeleton  Cove  and  within  fair 
pistol-shot. 

Now  glancing  below,  I  saw  Tressady  stand  alone  and 
with  Abnegation  Mings  huddled  at  his  feet,  but  in  the 
gloom  of  the  cave  and  to  right  and  left,  in  every  patch  of 
shadow  and  behind  every  bush  and  rock,  was  the  glimmer 
of  pistol  or  musket  barrel,  and  all  levelled  in  the  one 
direction. 

Presently  up  to  the  lofty  poop  of  the  ship  clambered  a 
short,  squat  man  in  marvellous  wide  breeches  and  a  great 
cutlass  on  hip,  who  clapping  speaking-trumpet  to  mouth, 
roared  amain: 

"Ahoy  the  shore!  We  be  short-handed.  Now  what 
rogues  o'  ye  will  turn  honest  mariners  and  'list  aboard  us 
for  England.'*  Who's  for  a  free  pardon  and  Old  Eng- 
land.?" 

Hereupon,  from  bush  and  shadow  and  rock,  I  heard  a 
whisper,  a  murmur,  and  the  word  "  England  "  oft  repeated. 

Tressady  heard  it  also  and,  stepping  forward,  he  drew 
a  long  furrow  in  the  sand  with  the  toe  of  his  shoe. 

"  Look  'ee,  my  hearty  boys,"  said  he,  pointing  to  this 
furrow  with  his  hook,  "  the  first  man  as  setteth  foot 
athwart  this  line  I  send  to  hell-fire  along  o'  Tom  Purdy 
yonder ! " 

**  Ahoy  the  shore ! "  roared  Godby  louder  than  ever. 


Penfeather  Reappears  345 

"  Who  's  for  an  honest  life,  a  free  pardon  and  a  share  in 
Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure  —  or  shall  it  be  a  broadside? 
Here  be  every  gun  full  charged  wi'  musket  balls  —  and 
't  is  point-blank  range !    Which  shall  it  be  ?  "  ' 

Once  again  rose  a  murmer  that  swelled  to  an  angry 
muttering,  and  I  saw  Smiling  Sam  come  creeping  from 
the  shadow  of  the  cave. 

"  Oh,  Cap'n,"  he  piped,  "  't  is  plaguy  desperate  business ; 
here's  some  on  us  like  to  be  bloody  corpses — but  I'm 
wi'  you,  Cap'n  Roger,  whether  or  no;  'tis  me  to  your 
back ! " 

"To  my  back,  Sammy?  Why  so  you  shall,  lad,  so  you 
shall,  but  I  '11  ha'  your  pistols  first,  Smiler  —  so ! "  And 
whipping  the  weapons  from  the  great  fellow's  belt,  Tres- 
sady  gave  them  to  Abnegation  Mings  where  he  lay  in  the 
shelter  of  a  rock  and,  sitting  down,  crossed  his  long  legs 
and  cocked  an  eye  at  the  heavens. 

"  Hearties  all,"  quoth  he,  "  the  moon  sinketh  apace  and 
't  will  be  ill  shooting  for  'em  i'  the  dark,  so  with  dark  't  is 
us  for  the  boats  —  muffled  oars  —  we  clap  'em  aboard  by 
the  forechains  larboard  and  starboard  and  the  ship  is  ours, 
bullies  —  ours !  " 

"Well  and  good,  Cap'n!"  piped  Smiling  Sam.  "But 
how  if  she  slip  her  cable  and  stand  from  us  — " 

"  And  how  shall  she,  my  fool  lad,  and  the  wind  dropped  ? 
The  wind  's  failed  'em,  and  they  lie  helpless  —  " 

"  And  that 's  gospel  true,  Cap'n.  Aye,  aye,  we  'm  wi' 
you !  Gi'e  us  the  word,  Cap'n ! "  quoth  divers  voices  in 
fierce  answer. 

"Oh,  sink  me!"  groaned  Mings.  "Here  lies  poor 
Abnegation  shattered  alow  and  aloft.  Oh,  bum  me,  here 's 
luck !  But  you  'U  take  me  along,  Roger?  If  Death  boards 
me  to-night,  I  'd  rayther  go  in  honest  fight  than  lying  here 
like  a  sick  dog —  so  you  '11  have  me  along,  Roger?  " 

"  Aye,  that  will  I,  lad,  that  will  I  and  —  " 

"  Ahoy  the  shore ! "  roared  Godby's  great  voice  again. 
"  Let  them  rogue-dogs  as  '11  turn  honest  mariners,  them  as 
is  for  England  and  a  free  pardon,  stand  by  to  come  aboard 


34^     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

and  lively!  In  ten  minute  we  open  fire  wi'  every  gun  as 
bears ! " 

Now  here  there  brake  forth  a  clamour  of  oaths,  cries 
and  dismayed  questioning : 

"  Lord  love  us,  what  now,  Cap'n?  Is  us  to  be  murdered, 
look'ee?  Doomed  men  we  be,  lads!  Shall  us  lie  waiting 
to  be  shot,  mates?  What  shall  us  do,  Cap'n,  what  shall 
us  do?" 

"  Lie  low ! "  quoth  Tressady,  rising.  "  Bide  still  all 
and  let  no  man  stir  till  I  give  word.  In  half  an  hour  or 
less  't  will  be  black  dark ;  very  well,  for  half  an  hour  I  '11 
hold  'em  in  parley.  I  '11  speak  'em  smooth  and  mighty 
friendly ;  here  shall  be  no  shooting.  I  '11  hold  'em  till  the 
moon  be  down  —  and  Smiler  shall  come  wi'  me  —  come, 
Sammy,  lad  —  come!" 

So  saying,  he  turned  and  I  watched  him  stride  out  upon 
that  spit  of  sand  hard  by  Bartlemy's  tree  and  this  great 
fat  fellow  trotting  at  his  heels.  Upon  the  edge  of  the  tide 
Tressady  paused  and  hailed  loud  and  cheerily: 

"Penfeather,  ahoy!  Oh,  Adam  Penfeather,  here  come 
I,  Roger  Tressady,  for  word  wi'  you.  Look  'ee,  Adam, 
we  've  fought  and  run  foul  of  each  other  this  many  a  year 
—  aye  half  round  the  world,  and  all  for  sake  o'  Black 
Bartlemy's  Treasure  as  is  mine  by  rights,  Adam,  mine  by 
rights.  Well  now,  to-night  let 's  you  and  me  make  an  end 
once  and  for  all,  one  way  or  t'  other.  There  's  you  wi' 
my  ship  —  true,  Adam,  true !  But  here 's  me  wi'  the  island 
and  the  treasure,  Adam,  and  the  treasure.  And  what 
then?  Why,  then,  says  I,  let 's  you  and  me  either  come  to 
some  composition  or  fight  it  out  man  to  man,  Adam,  man 
t6  man.  So  come  ashore.  Captain  Penfeather  —  you  as 
do  be  blacker  pirate  than  ever  was  Bartlemy  —  come  out 
yonder  on  the  reef  alone  wi'  me  and  end  it  one  way  or 
t'  other.  Come  ashore,  Adam,  come  ashore  if  ye  dare 
adventure ! " 

"Ahoy  you,  Tressady!"  roared  Godby  in  reply. 
"  Cap'n  Adam  is  ashore  wi'  ye  this  moment  —  look  astam 
o'  you,  ye  rogue ! " 


Penfeather  Reappears  347 

Round  sprang  Tressady  as  out  from  the  dense  shadow 
of  Bartlemy's  tree  stepped  Adam  Penfeather  himself.  He 
stood  there  in  the  moonlight  very  still  and  viewing  Tres- 
sady with  head  grimly  outthrust,  his  arms  crossed  upon 
his  breast,  a  pistol  in  either  fist,  and  deadly  menace  in 
every  Hne  of  his  small,  spare  figure. 

"  I  'm  here,  Tressady ! "  said  he,  his  voice  ringing  loud 
and  clear.  "  And  I  am  come  to  make  an  end  o'  you  this 
night.  It  hath  been  long  a-doing  —  but  I  have  ye  at  last, 
Roger." 

"  Be  ye  sure,  Adam,  so  sure.'' " 

"As  death,  Tressady,  for  I  have  ye  secure  at  last." 

"  Bleed  me,  but  you  're  out  there,  Adam,  you  're  out 
there.  The  boot 's  on  t'  other  leg,  for  hereabouts  do  lie 
thirty  and  eight  o'  my  lads,  watching  of  ye  this  moment 
and  wi'  finger  on  trigger." 

"  I  know  it !  "  said  Adam,  nodding.  "  But  there 's 
never  a  one  dare  shoot  me,  for  the  first  shot  fired  ashore 
shall  bring  a  whole  broadside  in  answer,  d'ye  see.  But 
as  for  you,  Tressady,  pray  if  you  can,  for  this  hour  you 
hang." 

"Hang  is  it,  Adam?"  said  Tressady,  and  with  swift 
glance  towards  the  sinking  moon.  "  And  who  's  to  do  it  — 
who?" 

"  There  be  thirty  and  eight  shall  swing  ye  aloft  so  soon 
as  I  give  'em  the  word,  Tressady." 

"  You  do  talk  rank  folly,  Adam,  folly,  and  ye  know  it ! " 
says  he,  smiling  and  stealing  furtive  hand  to  the  dagger 
in  his  girdle.  "  But  an  I  should  die  this  night,  I  take  you 
along  wi'  me,  and  you  can  lay  to  — "  But  he  got  no 
further,  for  Smiling  Sam  (and  marvellous  nimble) 
whipped  up  a  stone  and,  leaping  on  him  from  behind, 
smote  him  two  murderous  blows  and,  staggering  helplessly, 
Tressady  pitched  forward  upon  his  face  and  lay  upon 
the  verge  of  the  incoming  tide. 

Beholding  his  handiwork,  Smiling  Sam  uttered  a  thin, 
high-shrilling  laugh  and  spitting  upon  that  still  form 
kicked  it  viciously. 


348 


Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 


"Oho,  Cap'n  Penfeather,"  cried  he,  "'tis  the  Smiler 
hath  save  ye  the  labour,  look  'ee !  'T  is  Sam  hath  finished 
Tressady  at  last  and  be  damned  t'  him !  And  now  't  is  the 
Smiler  as  do  be  first  to  'list  wi'  ye!"  and  he  began  to 
shamble  across  the  sands.  But  passing  that  rock  where 
crouched  Abnegation  Mings  he  tripped  and  fell,  and  I 
saw  the  flash  of  Abnegation's  knife  as  they  rolled  and 
twisted  in  the  shadow  of  this  rock,  whiles  from  this  shadow 
rose  a  shrill  crying  like  the  wail  of  a  hurt  child,  and  into 
the  moonlight  came  a  great,  fat  hand  that  clutched  and 
tore  at  the  sand,  then  grew  suddenly  still  and  with  crooked 
fingers  plunged  deep  into  the  sand  like  a  white  claw.  Then, 
tossing  aside  his  bloody  knife.  Abnegation  Mings  strug- 
gled to  his  feet  and  came  staggering  to  kneel  above  his 
comrade  Tressady  and  to  turn  up  the  pallid  face  of  him 
to  the  moon. 

And  now  Adam  thrust  away  his  pistols  and  with  hands 
clasped  behind  him  turned  to  face  the  gloomy  shadows  of 
Skeleton  Cove. 

"  Come  out,  sons  o'  dogs  !  "  said  he.  "  Step  forward 
and  show  yourselves  —  and  lively  it  is ! "  Ensued  a  mo- 
ment's breathless  pause,  then,  from  bush  and  shadow  and 
rocks,  they  stole  forth  these  thirty  and  eight  and,  at 
Adam's  harsh  command,  lined  up  before  him  shoulder  and 
shoulder.  "Well,"  asked  Adam,  pacing  slowly  along 
theii'  rank  to  peer  into  every  sullen,  hang-dog  face,  "  am  I 
captain  here.''     Aye  or  no.?"* 

"Aye — aye!"  they  cried  in  eager  chorus. 

"  And  us  was  promised  a  free  pardon,  Cap'n ! "  quoth 
one. 

"  And  a  share  of  the  treasure,  Cap'n ! "  said  another. 

"  And  England,  Cap'n ! '"  cried  a  third.  "  There 's  some 
on  us  as  do  be  honest  sailormen  and  forced  to  turn  pirate 
in  spite  o'  we  —  " 

"  Avast ! "  answered  Adam.  "  What  I  promise  I  stand 
by.  But  mark  this !  Let  any  man  fail  of  his  duty  to 
me  but  once,  and  I  shoot  that  man  or  hang  him  out  o' 
hand  —  is  't  understood?  " 


Penfeather  Reappears  349 

"  Aye,  aye,  Cap'n  —  't  is  agreed !  We  '11  serve  ye  faith- 
ful and  true,"  they  cried. 

"  Why,  then,  bring  ropes ! "  said  Adam,  and  with  his 
new  'listed  men  at  his  heels,  goes  whither  lay  Tressady 
and  with  Abnegation  Mings  yet  crouched  above  him. 

What  now  was  doing  I  might  not  see  by  reason  of  the 
crowd,  but  I  heard  the  voice  of  Mings  upraised  in  fierce 
invective  and  the  throng  presently  parting,  beheld  him 
trussed  hand  and  foot  and  dragged  along  with  Tressady 
towards  Bartlemy's  tree.  There  a  noose  was  set  about 
the  neck  of  each,  and  the  ropes'  ends  cast  over  a  branch. 
But,  as  at  Adam's  command  these  miserable  wretches  were 
hauled  aloft  to  their  deaths,  my  lady  uttered  a  cry  of 
horror  and  grasped  my  arm  in  desperate  hands. 

"Martin!"  she  panted,  "oh,  Martin,  'tis  horrible! 
Save  them ;  this  must  not  —  shall  not  be — " 

"'Tis  but  justice,"  said  I,  "these  men  are  pirates  and 
murderers  —  " 

"This  is  no  justice!"  cried  she  breathlessly,  her  face 
all  pale  and  drawn.  "  And  these  men  are  sore  hurt  be- 
side—  Ah,  God  —  look!  Stop  them,  Martin —  Oh,  stop 
them !  Nay,  then,  I  will ! "  And  here,  or  ever  I  could  let 
or  stay  her,  she  began  to  clamber  down  into  the  cove. 
Howbeit,  quick  and  sure-footed  though  she  was,  I  was 
presently  before  her  and  so  came  running,  knife  in  hand. 
Nor  was  I  any  too  soon,  for  as  I  reached  the  tree  Tressady 
and  Mings  were  dragged,  choking,  from  their  feet;  but 
with  a  couple  of  strokes  my  keen  knife  had  cut  those 
deadly  ropes  asunder,  and  as  the  two  fell  gasping  on  the 
sand,  I  turned  to  stare  into  the  scowling  eyes  of  Adam 
Penfeather. 

Now  as  I  stood  thus  some  one  spoke  'twixt  sigh  and 
groan:  "Bartlemy^ — 'tis  Bartlemy!"  and  the  word  was 
taken  up  by  others,  "Bartlemy  —  Black  Bartlemy!"  and 
all  men  drew  back  from  me,  whiles  Adam  scowled  at  me 
above  levelled  pistol. 

"  Hold  off  —  Adam ! "  I  panted.  "  Let  be,  Adam  Pen- 
feather— let  be!" 


350     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure  I 

"What?"  cried  he,  peering.  "And  is  it  —  Martin? 
Lord  love  me,  now,  what  a  fool's  play  is  this  ?  "  ; 

*'  What  you  will,"  quoth  I,  "  only  here  has  been  enough: 
of  death  for  one  night  — "         ,  | 

"  'T  is  but  you  do  think  so,  Martin,  and  you  was  everj 
a  fooll  I  came  ashore  to  see  these  two  rogues  hang,  and 
hang  they  shall ! "  ] 

"  Now  look  you,  Adam  Penfeather,"  said  I,  scowling,, 
"  you  have  cozened  and  tricked  me  since  first  you  crossed; 
my  path ;  well,  let  that  go !  But  mark  this  ;  according  to, 
your  letter,  three  quarters  of  the  treasure  is  mine.  Very  well! 
—  take  it  back  —  I  '11  buy  these  rogues'  lives  of  you  —  " 

"Lord  love  me!"  said  he,  staring  in  blank  amaze, j 
"what  new  fool  craze  is  this?  Will  ye  save  this  bloody: 
murderer  Tressady  that  drugged  ye  aboard  ship,  the  man 
that  was  our  bane  and  plague  all  along?  The  rogue  hath' 
been  my  deadliest  enemy,  seeking  my  destruction  these 
fifteen  years,  and  you  would  save  him  alive!  It  seemeth 
my  pistol-butt  must  ha'  harmed  what  little  brain  you  have ; 
and  you  be  run  stark,  staring  mad,  Martin !  "  \ 

"  Howbeit,"  said  I,  mighty  determined,  "  you  don't  hang; 
these  men  whiles  I  live ! " 

"  Why,  there 's  no  difficulty  either,  Martin,  for  what 's  | 
to  stay  me  from  hanging  you  along  with  'em,  or  shooting- 
you  for  the  fool  you  are?  "  i 

"  I ! "  cried  a  voice,  and  there  betwixt  us  was  my  lady,  | 
she  all  stately  dignity  despite  her  hurried  breathing,  atl 
sight  of  whom  these  lawless  fellows  gave  back  one  and  all,  i 
even  Adam  himself  retreating  a  step,  while  he  stared  upon  \ 
her  round-eyed.  Then,  very  slowly,  he  thrust  pistols  into ! 
belt  and  uncovering  his  head  bowed  full  low,  and  I  fancied ; 
hii^  thin  lips  twitched  as  he  did  so. 

"  So  be  it,  my  lady,"  said  he ;  "I  call  on  your  ladyship  i 
to  witness  that  I  sell  two  bundles  of  very  unseemly  mer- ! 
chandise,"  and  he  pointed  towards  the  two  helpless  forms  \ 
at  his  feet.  "  And  now,  with  your  fair  leave,  madam,  I  '11 
see  these  fellows  safe  aboard  and  warn  my  Lord  Bering, 
and  gentlemen  of  your  welfare  and  presence  here." 


Penfeather  Reappears  351 

"  Wait ! "  said  I,  as  he  turned  to  go.  "  First  I  would 
have  these  my  purchases  set  aboard  a  boat  with  such  stores 
needful  and  cast  adrift." 

"  Why,  tliis  was  not  in  the  bargain,  Martin ! "  said  he, 
shaking  his  head.  "  But  it  shall  be  done  for  sake  of  our 
one-time  comradeship."  And  away  he  went  and  his  fellows 
with  him.  True  to  his  word,  he  ordered  the  pinnace 
launched  and  sent  divers  men  to  bear  these  two  rogues 
aboard.  Hereupon  I  cut  away  their  bonds ;  doing  the 
which  I  found  Tressady  still  unconscious,  but  Mings  for 
all  his  wounds  seemed  lively  enough. 

"  Master,"  said  he,  staring  hard  at  me,  "  your  name  *8 
Martin,  as  I  think?" 

"And  what  then.''"  said  I,  mighty  short. 

"  'T  is  a  name  I  shall  mind  as  long  as  I  do  my  own, 
and  that  is  Mings  —  Abnegation  Mings." 

"  Aye,"  answered  I.  "  You  told  me  this  when  you  sang 
of  dead  men  in  a  wood  at  midnight  —  " 

"Ha,  'twas  you,  was  it,  master!  Well,  here  lieth  poor 
Roger  dead  or  dying  and  me  little  better,  and  't  is  far  to 
the  Main  and  an  ill  journey,  but  should  we  come  there  and 
live,  there  be  two  men  shall  wonder  at  ye,  master,  nor  ever 
forget  the  name  o*  the  man  as  saved  our  necks.  Howso- 
ever, come  life  or  death,  here 's  Abnegation  doth  wish  ye 
a  fair  wind  ever  and  always,  master." 

So  they  bore  him,  together  with  Tressady,  to  the  pin- 
nace and,  setting  them  aboard,  shoved  them  adrift  and  I 
watched  Abnegation  ply  feeble  oars  until  the  boat  was 
through  the  passage  in  the  reef  and  out  in  the  open  sea 
beyond. 

Now  as  I  stood  thus,  staring  out  to  sea,  the  moon  sank 
and  with  it  my  heart  also,  for  as  the  dark  came  about  me 
so  came  darkness  within  me  and  sudden  sorrow  with  great 
fear  of  the  future;  wherefore,  beholding  the  loom  of  the 
ship  where  lights  twinkled,  I  would  gladly  have  seen  her 
a  shattered  wreck,  and  hearing  the  hoarse  laughter  and 
voices  of  these  lawless  fellows  waking  the  echoes  of  De- 
liverance Beach,  I  hated  them  one  and  all  and  to  my  fear 


352     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

and  sorrow  anger  was  added.  But  now  cometh  my  dear  ' 
lady  to  stand  beside  me,  to  steal  her  hand  into  mine,  and  j 
never  a  word  betwixt  us  for  a  while.     At  last —  j 

"  So  endeth  our  solitude,  Martin ! " 

"Aye!"  ! 

"  Our  deliverance  is  come ! "  said  she  and  then,  very 
softly.      "  Doth   not   tliis    rej  oice    you  ? "      Here    answer 
found  I  none,  since  now  at  last  I  knew  this  the  very  thing 
I  had  come  most  to  dread.     So  was  silence  again  save  for  j 
these   hoarse,  unlovely   voices   where  they   launched   and  I 
boarded  the  long  boat.     "  Master  Adam  would  have  me  { 
go  on  board,  Martin,  but  'tis  near  dawn,  so  will  I  bide  ' 
with  you  to  welcome  this  new  day." 

"  I  'm  glad  you  stayed,  Damaris."  At  this  I  felt  her  I 
clasp  tighten  on  my  fingers  and  so  she  brought  me  to  a  > 
rock  hard  by  and,  sinking  on  the  warm  sand,  would  have  ' 
me  sit  by  her;  thus,  side  by  side,  we  watched  the  boat  ; 
pull  away  to  the  ship,  and  presently  all  about  us  was  t 
hushed  save  for  the  never-ceasing  murmur  of  the  surge.        , 

"  Martin,"  says  she  in  a  while,  "  with  this  new  day  i 
beginneth  for  us  a  new  life !  In  a  few  short  hours  we  sail  ; 
for  England." 

"  England !     Aye,  to  be  sure !  "  said  I,  mighty  doleful, 
but,  conscious  of  her  regard,  strove  to  look  happy  yet  | 
made  such  a  botch  of  it  that,  getting  to  her  knees,  she  took  ] 
my  hang-dog  face  betwixt  her  two  hands.  I 

**  Oh,  but  you  are  glad .''  "  she  questioned,  a  little  breath-  \ 
lessly.  "  Glad  to  come  with  me  to  England  —  to  leave  this  ! 
wilderness  ?  "  | 

"  Aye ! "  I  nodded,  well-nigh  choking  on  the  word.  I 

"  Dear  Martin,  look  at  me ! "  she  commanded.  "  Now  ^ 
speak  me  plain,  whence  is  your  grief?  " 

"  Oh,  my  lady,"  quoth  I,  "  't  is  the  knowledge  of  my  un-  ' 
worthiness,  my  unloveliness,  my  rude  and  graceless  ways;  | 
England  is  no  place  for  like  of  me.    I  am  well  enough  here 
in  the  wild  —  to  work  for  you,  fight  for  you  an  need  be, 
but   how   may    I   compare   with   your   fine   gallants    and  i 
courtly  gentlemen  —  "  i 


Penfeather  Reappears  353 

Now  at  this  she  clasped  me  all  sudden  in  her  arms 
and,  setting  soft  cheek  to  mine,  fell  a-chiding  me,  yet  kiss- 
ing me  full  oft,  calling  me  "  silly,"  "  dear,"  "  foolish," 
and  "  beloved." 

"  How  shall  you  compare  ?  "  cried  she.  "  Thus  and  thus, 
dear  Martin — so  infinitely  above  and  beyond  all  other 
men  that  unless  you  wed  me  needs  must  I  die  a  maid ! " 

Thus  did  she  comfort  me,  soothing  my  fears,  and  thus 
the  dawn  found  us. 

"Oh,  'tis  day!"  she  sighed.  "'TIs  day  already!" 
And  now  't  was  her  voice  was  doleful,  whiles  her  eyes  gazed 
regretful  round  about  the  white  sands  of  Deliverance  and 
the  tree-clad  highlands  beyond.  "  Oh,  indeed  I  do  love 
this  dear  island  of  ours,  Martin!" 

Sudden  upon  the  stilly  air  was  the  beat  of  oars,  and 
we  beheld  a  boat  rowed  by  a  couple  of  mariners,  and  in 
the  stem-sheets  Sir  Rupert  Dering  and  the  three  gentle- 
men, his  companions.  Hereupon  my  lady  would  have  me 
go  with  her  to  meet  them  then  and  there,  but  I  shook  my 
head. 

"  Do  you  go,  Damarls ;  I  '11  not  speak  them  before  I 
must.  And  should  you  have  cause  to  mention  me,  I  pray 
you  will  not  tell  my  name." 

"  As  you  will,  dear  Martin,"  said  she  and,  pressing  my 
hand,  went  her  way.  From  the  shadow  of  the  rock  I 
watched  these  gentlemen  leap  gaily  ashore  to  bow  before 
her  with  many  and  divers  elegant  posturlngs,  flourishes  . 
and  flauntings  of  hats,  kissings  of  her  hand  and  the  like  gal- 
lantries, until  I  must  needs  scowl  otherwhere ;  yet  even  so, 
was  conscious  of  their  merry  laughter  where  they  paced 
to  and  fro  and  the  new-risen  sun  making  a  glory  about 
her.  At  last  she  curtseyed  and  staying  them  with  a  ges- 
ture, came  hasting  back  to  me. 

"  Martin,"  said  she,  "  it  seems  there  be  men  wounded 
and  dying  on  board  ship ;  so  must  I  go  to  them.  Will  you 
not  come  with  me.'"' 

"  Nay,"  I  answered.  "I  '11  to  the  caves  for  such  things 
as  you  would  bring  away." 


1 


354     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

"  Why,  then,  my  spoon,  Martin,  and  three-legged  stool ; 
bring  these ;  nay  wait,  't  is  there  I  would  bid  farewell  to 
this  our  dear  island.     Wait  me  there,  Martin !  " 

So  away  she  went  upon  her  errand  of  mercy,  leaving  me 
to  my  thoughts,  and  these  all  of  England  and  my  future 
life  there.  I  was  fain  to  picture  myself  married  and 
happy  in  my  lady's  love,  my  life  thenceforth  a  succession 
of  peaceful  days  amid  the  ordered  quiet  of  that  Kentish 
countryside  I  knew  and  loved  so  well.  With  the  eye  of 
my  mind  I  seemed  to  see  a  road  winding  'twixt  bloomy 
hedgerows,  past  chattering  brooks  and  pleasant  meadows, 
past  sleepy  hamlet  bowered  'mid  trees  and  so,  'neath  a 
leafy  shade,  to  where  rose  tall  gates,  their  piUars  crowned 
by  couchant  leopards  wrought  in  the  stone,  and  beyond 
these  a  broad  avenue,  its  green  shadow  splashed  with  sun- 
light, leading  away  to  the  house  of  Conisby  Shene  with  its 
wide  terrace,  where  stood  my  lady  waiting  and  expectant ; 
yet  nowhere  could  I  vision  myself.  And  now  I  must  needs 
bethink  me  of  Godby's  "  long,  dark  road  with  the  beckon- 
ing light  and  the  waiting  arms  of  love,"  and  in  my  heart 
the  old  doubt  waked  and  a  fear  that  such  peace,  such 
tender  meetings  and  welcomes  sweet  were  not  for  such  as 
I,  nor  ever  could  be. 

From  these  gloomy  reflections  I  was  roused  by  a  gig- 
gling laugh  and,  glancing  about,  espied  Sir  Rupert  and 
his  three  fellows,  their  finery  somewhat  the  worse  for  their 
late  hardship  yet  themselves  very  gay  and  debonair  none 
the  less  as  they  stood  viewing  me  and  mighty  interested. 
Presently  Sir  Rupert  steps  up  to  me  with  his  haughtiest 
fine-gentlemanly  air  and  no  civiht}'^  of  bowing. 

"  Let  me  perish  but  here  *s  notable  change ! "  said  he, 
surveying  my  rich  attire,  so  that  I  yearned  for  my  rags 
again.  "  Here  is  strange  metamorphosis !  The  sullen 
and  rustic  Cymon  bloometh  at  Beauty's  mandate ;  Caliban 
is  tamed ! "  At  the  which  sally  his  companions  giggled 
again. 

"  Sir,"  quoth  I,  and  awkwardly  enough,  "  I  am  in  no 
mood  for  your  pleasantries;  if  therefore  you  have  aught 


Penfeather  Reappears  355 

else  to  say  of  me,  pray  remove  out  o'  my  hearing.'*  This 
protest  Sir  Rupert  fanned  airily  aside  with  be-ringed  hand. 

"  I  gather,"  said  he,  "  that  you  have  been  at  some  pains 
of  service  to  my  Lady  Brandon  in  her  late  dolorous  situa- 
tion  here  —  receive   my  thanks !  " 

"I  wish  none  o'  your  thanks,  sir  — " 

"  None  the  less  I  bestow  'em  —  on  my  Lady  Brandon's 
behalf.     Furthermore  —  " 

"Enough  sir,  I  would  be  alone — " 

"Furthermore,"  he  continued  and  with  another  airy 
motion  of  his  white  fingers,  "I  would  have  you  particularly 
remark  that  if  my  Lady  Brandon,  lacking  better  company, 
hath  stooped  to  any  small  familiarities  with  you,  these 
must  be  forgot  and  —  " 

"  Ha ! "  I  cried,  springing  to  my  feet,  "  begone,  paltry 
fool,  lest  I  kick  you  harder  than  I  did  last  time  at  Conisby 
Shene— " 

"  Insolent  gallow's-rogue !  "  he  panted,  reaching  for  his 
sword-hilt,  but  as  he  freed  it  from  scabbard  I  closed  with 
him  and,  wrenching  it  from  his  hold,  belaboured  him 
soundly  with  the  flat  of  it  and  such  of  his  companions  as 
chanced  within  my  reach,  until,  hearing  shouts,  I  espied 
Adam  approaching  with  divers  of  his  grinning  fellows. 
Whereupon  I  snapped  the  blade  across  my  knee  and  hasted 
from  the  place. 

I  strode  on  haphazard  in  a  blind  fury,  but  reaching  the 
woods  at  last  and  safe  from  all  observation,  I  cast  myself 
down  therein,  and  gradually  my  anger  grew  to  a  great 
bitterness.  For  (thinks  I)  "gallow's-rogue"  am  I  in  very 
truth  and  outcast  from  my  kind,  a  creature  shamed  by 
pillory  and  lash,  a  poor  wretch  for  spiteful  Fortune's 
buffets.  Hereupon  (being  a  blind  fool  ever)  I  cursed  the 
world  and  all  men  in  it  saving  only  my  unworthy  self. 
And  next,  bethinking  me  of  my  dear  lady  who  of  her 
infinite  mercy  had  stooped  to  love  such  as  I,  it  seemed 
that  my  shame  must  smirch  her  also,  that  rather  than  lift- 
ing me  to  her  level  I  must  needs  drag  her  down  to  mine. 
She,  wedding  me,  gave  all,  whiles  I,  taking  all,  had  nought 


35^     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

to  offer  in  return  save  my  unworthiness.  Verily  it  seemed 
that  my  hopes  of  life  with  her  in  England  were  but  empty 
dreams,  that  I  had  been  living  in  the  very  Paradise  of 
Fools  unless  — 

Here  I  raised  bowed  head  and  clenching  my  fists  stared 
blindly  before  me: 

How  if  the  ship  should  sail  without  us? 


CHAPTER   XXXV 

I  Lose  My  X.ady 

The  sun  being  high-risen  and  myself  famished  with  hunger, 
I  set  off  for  our  habitation  by  paths  well-hid  from  observa- 
tion and  yearning  mightily  to  find  my  lady  there.  Having 
scaled  the  cliff,  I  reached  the  little  plateau  and,  parting 
the  bushes,  recoiled  from  the  muzzle  of  a  piece  levelled  at 
me  by  a  squat,  grim  fellow. 

"  What,  Godby !  "  said  I,  frowning.  "  D'  ye  take  me 
for  murderer  still,  then.'' "  At  this  he  let  fall  his  musket 
in  blank  amaze  and  then  came  running  and  with  hands 
outstretched. 

"Oh,  pal!"  cried  he,  "oh,  pal  —  have  I  found  ye  at 
last.''  Ha,  many 's  the  time  I've  grieved  for  ye  and  my 
fool's  doubts  o'  you,  Martin,  choke  me  else !  I  'm  sorry, 
pal,  bum  me  but  I  've  repented  my  suspecting  o'  you  ever 
since,  though  to  be  sure  you  was  mighty  strange  aboard 
the  Faithfull  Friend  and  small  wonder.  But  here  's  me 
full  o'  repentance,  Martin,  so — if  you  can  forgive  poor 
Godby—.?  " 

"  Full  and  freely ! "  said  I,  whereupon  he  hugs  me  and 
the  tears  running  down  his  sunburned  cheeks. 

"  Then  we  'm  pals  again,  Martin,  and  all 's  bowmon !  '* 

"And  what  o'  me.'*"  Turning  about,  I  beheld  Adam 
on  the  threshold  of  the  cave.     "  What  o'  me,  shipmate  ?  " 

"Aye  —  what.?"  repeated  I,  folding  my  arms. 

"Ha,  doth  the  tap  o'  my  pistol-butt  smart  yet,  Mar- 
tin—.?" 

"I  know  you  beyond  all  doubt  for  pirate  and  buc- 
caneer—  '* 

"  All  past  and  done,  Martin.'* 


358      Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

**  I  know  you  planned  from  the  first  to  seize  the  Faithfull 
Friend  — ' " 

"Aye,  but  whereas  your  proof?  The  FaithfvU  Friend 
is  blown  up  —  '* 

"  And  by  your  hand,  like  as  not  —  " 

**  True  again,  so  it  was,  Martin ;  and  thereby  did  I  out- 
wit Tressady  and  saved  the  lives  of  my  own  people." 

"  You  have  been  at  great  pains  to  befool  me  to  your  evil 
ends." 

**  At  no  pains,  Martin ;  't  was  purely  simple  matter ! " 

**  You  have  been  the  death  of  divers  men  on  this  island." 

*'  But  always  in  fair  fight ! "  said  he,  glancing  at  me  in 
his  furtive  fashion.  "  'T  was  them  or  me,  comrade,  and 
black  rogues  all." 

"  So  you  say ! " 

"And  who's  to  deny  it,  shipmate.?" 

*'  Aye,  who  indeed.?    It  seems  you  've  killed  'em  all." 

**Ha,  d'ye  doubt  my  word,  Martin?" 

**  Aye,  I  do  so,  and  judging  from  what  I  know,  I  do  take 
ye  for  a  very  rogue,  and  so  I  'm  done  with  you  henceforth." 

'*  Rogue?  "  says  he.  "  'T  is  an  ill  word !  And  yet  I  had 
rather  be  rogue  than  fool,  and  you  are  the  fool  of  the 
world,  Martin,  for  here  are  you  seeking  quarrel  with  your 
best  friend." 

"  Friend?  "  quoth  I.    "  O  God,  protect  me  from  such ! " 

"  Now  look  'ee,  you  have  named  me  rogue  and  good  as 
called  me  liar,  which  is  great  folly,  seeing  you  do  lie  in  my 
power.  So  here  will  I  prove  my  friendsliip  and  the  depth 
of  your  folly  —  " 

"  Nay  —  I  '11  hear  no  more ! " 

"Aye  —  but  you  will!  Cover  him,  Godby,  and  fire  if 
I  say  so ! " 

"  Oh,  Lord  love  me !  "  groaned  Godby,  but  obeyed  never- 
theless, and  looking  where  he  stood,  his  piece  levelled  at 
me,  I  knew  he  would  obey  Adam's  word  despite  his  an- 
guished looks. 

"  And  now,"  said  Adam,  crossing  his  arms,  "  here 's  the 
truth  on  't.    I  found  you  a  poor  wretch  bent  on  vengeance, 


I  Lose  My  Lady  359 

murder,  and  a  rogue's  death,  which  was  pure  folly.  I 
offered  yon  riches,  the  which  you  refused,  and  this  was 
arrant  folly.  I  took  you  for  comrade,  brought  you  aboard 
ship  with  offer  of  honest  employ  which  you  likewise  re- 
fused, and  here  was  more  folly.  Your  conduct  on  board 
ship  was  all  folly.  So,  despite  yourself,  I  set  you  on  a 
fair  island  with  a  right  noble  and  handsome  lady  that  you, 
by  love,  might  perchance  learn  some  little  wisdom.  Well, 
you  fall  in  love  —  " 

"  Stop  !  "  cried  I,  clenching  my  fists. 

"  Not  I ! "  said  he,  uncrossing  his  arms,  and  I  saw  he 
had  levelled  a  pistol  at  me  in  the  crook  of  his  arm.  "  I  'm 
no  fine  gentlemen  for  ye  to  bruise,  so  haul  your  wind  and 
listen !  You  fall  in  love  with  my  lady,  as  how  could  you 
help,  and  she  with  you,  which  is  a  matter  of  some  wonder. 
So  here  are  you  full  o'  love,  but  doth  this  teach  ye  wisdom.? 
Never  a  whit !  For  now  must  you  fall  foul  and  belabour 
our  four  gallants  and  from  mere  fine  gentlemen  transform 
'em  into  your  deadly  enemies,  and  here  was  folly  stupen- 
dous !  And  now  you  must  quarrel  with  me,  the  which  is 
folly  absolute  I  Thus  do  I  find  ye  fool  persistent  and  con- 
sistent ever,  and  I,  being  so  infinitely  the  opposite,  do 
contemn  you  therefor — " 

"And  now  ha'  you  done?"  I  demanded,  raging. 

"  Not  quite,  Martin.  You  balked  me  i'  the  hanging  o' 
these  two  rogues,  Tressady  and  Mings,  and  here  was 
pitiful  folly,  since  to  hang  such  were  a  wise  and  prudent 
measure.  Thus  have  you  loosed  murder  on  my  heels  again ; 
well,  let  that  go.  But  you  doubted  my  word,  you  named 
me  rogue  and  for  this  you  shall  fight  me ! "  So  saying,  he 
stepped  into  the  cave  and  brought  thence  that  same  be- 
jewelled Spanish  rapier." 

"  I  've  no  mind  to  fight  with  you,'*  said  I,  turning  away. 

"  An  excellent  blade ! "  said  he,  making  a  pass  in  the 
air;  then  he  tendered  it  to  me  hilt  foremost  and  with  a 
little  bow. 

"  'T  is  right  you  should  know  I  am  wearing  the  chain 
shirt." 


360      Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

"  No  matter,"  quoth  he,  drawing,  "  there  is  your  throat 
or  your  eye  —  come !  " 

So  point  to  point  we  fell  to  it.  I  had  been  somewhat 
esteemed  at  the  art  once,  and  now  I  matched  his  vicious 
thrusts  with  cunning  parades,  with  volts  and  passes,  push- 
ing at  him  when  I  might  so  that  twice  I  was  very  near. 
But  suddenly  as  he  retreated  before  my  attack,  his  blade 
darted  and  flashed,  and  he  called  out :  "  One ! "  And  now 
he  pressed  me  in  turn  with  quick  thrusts  and  bewildering 
feints  and  presently  called  out  again :  "  Two  !  Three ! 
Four! "  Then  I  saw  he  was  cutting  the  buttons  from  my 
sleeve,  how  and  when  he  would;  therefore  I  cast  away  my 
sword  in  petulant  anger  and  folded  my  arms. 

"Lord  love  me!    Are  ye  done,  Martin?" 

"  Oh,  make  an  end  one  way  or  t'  other ;  I  '11  not  be  played 
with!" 

"  Verily,  you  were  more  dangerous  with  a  club ! "  said 
he  and  sheathed  his  rapier.  As  for  me,  espying  the  three- 
legged  stool,  I  sat  me  down  mighty  dejected  and  full  of 
bitter  thoughts,  until,  feeling  a  touch  on  my  bowed  shoul- 
der, I  looked  up  and  found  him  beside  me. 

"  Martin,"  said  he,  "  't  is  true  you  are  a  fool,  but  your 
folly  harmeth  none  but  yourself!  And  thou'rt  such 
honest  fool  that  I  must  needs  love  thee,  which  is  strange, 
yet  so  it  is.  Look  *ee,  we  have  quarrelled  and  fought,  very 
well  —  what 's  to  let  us  from  being  friends  again  ?  " 

"But  if  I  doubt  you,  Adam?" 

"  Why,  as  to  that,"  said  he  with  his  whimsical  look,  "  I 
verily  do  think  myself  a  something  doubtful  being  at 
times." 

Nowi  at, this,  up  I  rose  and  gripped  his  hand  right 
heartily;  which  done  he  brought  me  into  the  cave  whiles 
Godby  posted  himself  on  the  threshold,  leaning  on  his 
musket. 

"What  now,  Adam?"  I  questioned. 

"  Now  let  us  divide  our  treasure,  Martin  —  '* 

**  But  I  bartered  my  share  for  the  lives  of  —  " 

"  Tush ! "  said  he,  and  reaching  a  valise  from  shadowy 


I  Lose  My  Lady  361 

comer  he  opened  it  and  I  beheld  such  a  glory  of  flashing 
gems  as  nigh  dazzled  me  with  their  splendour.  "  Look  at 
'em,  Martin,  look  at  'em !  "  he  whispered.  "  Here 's  love 
and  hate,  life  and  death,  every  good  and  all  the  sins  — 
look  at  'em !  "  And  catching  up  a  handful  he  let  them  fall, 
ghttering,  through  his  fingers.  "  Lord  love  me,  Martin," 
he  whispered ;  "  't  is  enough  to  turn  a  man's  brain !  Have 
ye  counted  'em  over,  comrade?" 

"  I  never  saw  them  until  this  moment,  Adam."  And 
I  confessed  how  in  my  folly  I  had  cast  his  letter  of  instruc- 
tions into  the  sea,  and  of  how  my  lady  had  found  the 
secret  at  her  dire  peril. 

"And  she  never  showed  you,  Martin.?" 

*'  I  was  always  too  busy ! " 

**  Busy ! "  cried  he,  sitting  back  on  his  heels  to  stare  up 
at  me.  "Busy?  Oh,  Lord  love  me!  Sure  there's  not 
your  like  i'  the  whole  world,  Martin ! " 

"  Which  is  mighty  well  for  the  world ! "  said  I  bitterly. 

*'  T  is  vasty  treasure,  Martin,  and  worth  some  little 
risk.  And  in  the  cave  lie  yet  fifty  and  four  bars  of  gold 
and  others  of  silver  with  store  of  rix-doUars,  doubloons, 
moidores  and  pieces  of  eight  —  gold  coins  of  all  coun- 
tries. There  let  'em  rot ;  here 's  more  wealth  than  we  shall 
ever  spend.    Shall  we  divide  it  here  or  aboard  ship?  " 

"  Wait  rather  until  we  reach  England." 

"  So  be  it,  comrade.  Then  I'm  minded  to  apportion  a 
share  to  Godby  here.     What  d'ye  say?" 

"With  all  my  heart!" 

"  Why,  then,  't  is  time  we  got  it  safe  on  board." 

"But  how  to  do  it  —  what  of  Tressady's  rogues, 
Adam?" 

"  Having  buried  such  of  themselves  as  needed  it,  Martin, 
you  shall  see 'em  playing  leapfrog  on  the  sands  down 
yonder,  happy  as  any  innocent  school  lads,  and  never  a 
firearm  amongst  'em." 

"  Hist,  Cap'n  ! "  warned  Godby,  suddenly  alert,  "  the 
man  Abner  and  his  two  mates  a-peeping  and  a-prying ! " 

"Where  away,  Godby,  man?" 


362      Black  Bartlemy*s  Treasure 

"  Hove  to  in  the  lee  o*  them  bushes  yonder." 
"  'T  is  sly,  skulking  rogue,  this  Abner ! "  said  Adam, 
closing  and   strapping  the  valise.      "  'T  is   in   my   mind, 
Godby,  this  Abner  will  never  live  to  see  England.    Summon 
'em  hither,  all  three." 

This  Godby  did  forthwith,  and  presently  the  three  fel- 
lows appeared  who,  knuckling  their  foreheads,  made  us 
their  several  reverences. 

"  What  now,  lads  ?  "  said  Adam,  viewing  them  with  his 
keen  eyes.  "  I  seem  to  mind  your  looks ;  you  sailed  with 
Black  Bartlemy  aboard  the  Delight ,  I  think?  Nay,  'tis 
no  matter,  we  '11  let  bygones  be  bygones  and  we  be  all  mar- 
vellous honest  these  days,  the  which  is  well.  Meantime 
take  this  dunnage  down  to  the  boat,"  and  he  pointed  to  the 
valise.  Hereupon  one  of  the  fellows  took  it  up,  and 
knuckled  an  eyebrow  to  us  in  turn.  "  We  sail  at  sun- 
down," said  Adam,  **  so,  Godby,  you  may  as  well  go 
aboard  and  see  that  all  be  ready." 

"  Aye,  aye ! "  said  Godby,  tightening  the  belt  where 
swung  his  great  cutlass  and,  shouldering  his  musket,  set 
off  after  the  three. 

"  So  there  goeth  our  fortune  aboard,  comrade." 
"And  in  desperate,  risky  fashion,  Adam  — " 
"  In  safe,  straightforward  fashion  rather,  and  In  broad 
daylight,  the  which  is  surer  than  stealing  it  aboard  in  the 
dark  —  " 

"  But  should  these  rogues  guess  what  they  carry  —  " 
"  They  won't,  Martin,  and  if  they  should  they  have  but 
their  knives  'gainst  Godby's  musket  and  pistols  — " 
"  Ha  —  murder,  Adam  ?  " 
*'  Would  you  call  this  murder,  comrade  ?  " 
*'What  other?     I  wonder  what  manner  of  man  you'll 
be  away  there  in  England  ?  " 

"A  worthy,  right  worshipful  justice  o'  the  peace, 
Martin,  if  Providence  seeth  fit,  in  laced  coat  and  great 
peruke,  to  see  that  my  tenant's  cottages  be  sound  and 
wholesome,  to  pat  the  tousled  heads  o'  the  children,  bless 
'em !    And  to  have  word  with  every  soul  i'  the  ^dllage.    To 


I  Lose  My  Lady  363 

snooze  in  my  great  pew  o'  Sundays  and,  dying  at  last, 
snug  abed,  to  leave  behind  me  a  kindly  memory.  And 
what  for  you,  Martin?  What  see  you  in  the  ship  yonder?  " 

"  God  knoweth !  "  said  I  gloomily. 

"Why  not  a  woman's  love,  comrade;  why  not  good 
works,  rank  and  belike  —  children  to  honour  your  mem- 
ory?" 

"Were  I  but  worthy  all  this,  Adam?  " 

"Zounds,  but  here's  humility!  Yet  your  true  lorer  is 
ever  humble,  I  've  heard,  so  't  is  very  well,  Martin.  And 
this  doth  mind  me  I  bear  you  a  message  from  my  lady  —  " 

"A  message — from  her?"  I  cried,  gripping  his  arm. 
"  Out  with  it,  man,  out  with  it,  and  God  forgive  you  this 
delay!     What  said  my  lady?" 

"  This,  Martin :  she  would  have  you  shave  according  to 
late  custom  —  " 

"  Why,  so  I  will !    But  said  she  no  more?  " 

"  Aye,  something  of  meeting  you  here.  So  get  to  your 
sha\'ing  and  cheerily,  comrade,  cheerily.  I  '11  to  the  ship, 
for  at  sunset  't  is  up  anchor  and  hey  for  England !  I  '11 
fire  two  guns  to  warn!  you  aboard,  and  tarry  not,  for  the 
ship  lieth  within  a  sunken  reef  and  we  must  catch  the 
flood."  Here  he  turned  to  go,  then  paused  to  glance  round 
the  horizon  with  a  seaman's  eye.  "  The  wind  is  fair  to 
serve  us,  Martin,"  said  he,  pinching  his  chin,  "  and  yet  I 
could  wish  for  a  tempest  out  o'  the  north  and  a  rising 
sea ! " 

"  And  why,  Adam,  in  Heaven's  name?  " 

"  'T  would  be  the  sure  and  certain  end  of  Tressady  and 
Mings,  comrade.  Howbeit,  what 's  done  is  done,  and  all 
things  do  lie  in  the  hands  of  Providence,  so  do  I  cherish 
hope.     Go  and  shave,  Martin,  go  and  shave ! " 

Left  alone,  I  betook  me  to  my  razors  and  shaved  me 
with  unwonted  care,  yet  hearkening  for  her  quick,  light 
step  the  while. 

Scarce  was  my  labour  ended  than  I  thought  to  hear  the 
rustle  of  leaves  and  hasted  from  the  cave,  calling  on  her 
name  and  mighty  joyous  and  eager: 


364     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

"  Damaris !  Art  here  at  last,  dear,  my  lady  ?  "  And  so 
came  face  to  face  with  Sir  Rupert. 

He  stood  smiling  at  my  discomfiture,  yet  his  black 
brows  were  close;  but  he  halted  and  folded  his  arms,  and 
I  could  see  the  betraying  bulge  of  the  pistol  in  his  great 
side  pocket.  For  a  while  he  measured  me  with  his  eye; 
at  last  he  spoke: 

"  Within  the  hour  my  Lady  Brandon  sails  for  England, 
and  from  this  hour  you  will  forget  my  Lady  Brandon  ever 
existed  or  —  " 

"  Tush,  man !  "  said  I.     "  Begone,  you  weary  me  —  " 

"  Or,"  he  went  on  with  an  airy  gesture  of  his  hand, 
"I  shall  cure  your  weariness  for  good  — " 

"Shoot  me?" 

"Most  joyfully!  Whatsoever  hath  chanced  betwixt 
you  in  this  wilderness,  my  Lady  Brandon's  honour  must 
and  —  " 

Warned  by  my  look,  he  clapped  hand  to  his  pocket  but 
as  he  freed  the  weapon  I  was  upon  him,  grasping  his  pistol 
hand.  For  a  moment  we  swayed  together,  he  striving 
frantically  to  break  my  hold,  I  to  wrest  it  from  him,  then 
it  exploded  and,  uttering  a  sudden,  long-dra^Ti  gasp,  he 
sank  to  the  grass  at  my  feet  and  lay  very  mute  and  still. 
Whilst  I  yet  stared  from  his  pallid  face  to  the  pistol 
where  it  had  fallen,  I  heard  shouts,  a  running  of  feet,  and 
glancing  up  saw  the  three  gentlemen,  his  companions, 
standing  at  gaze,  motionless;  then  suddenly  they  turned 
and  hasted  away,  crying  "  INIurder "  on  me  as  they  ran. 
Like  one  in  a  dream  I  stared  down  at  Sir  Rupert's  motion- 
less form  until  I  was  aware  of  my  lady  beside  him  on  her 
knees  and  of  the  pallor  of  her  face  as  she  looked  from  him 
to  me,  her  eyes  wide  with  horror. 

"  If  you  have  killed  him,  Martin  —  if  you  have  killed 
him,  here  is  an  end  of  our  happiness  — God  forgive  you ! " 

Now  would  I  have  spoken  but  found  no  words,  for  in 
this  moment  I  knew  that  Sir  Rupert  was  surely  dead. 
Dumbly  I  watched  the  passionate  labour  of  her  dexterous 
hands,  saw  them  pause  at  last  to  clasp  and  wring  them- 


V 


1  Lose  My  Lady  365 

selves  in  helpless  despair,  saw  the  three  gentlemen,  obedient 
to  her  word,  stoop  and  lift  that  limp  form  and  bear  it 
slowly  away  towards  Dehverance  Sands  and  she  going 
beside  them. 

Now  as  I  stood  watching  her  leave  me,  I  heard  the  sud- 
den roar  of  a  gun  and,  glancing  towards  the  ship,  saw 
they  were  already  making  sail.  Roused  by  this  I  came 
beside  my  lady  and  found  my  voice  at  last. 

"  Here  was  the  work  of  chance — not  I,  Damaris,  not  I ! " 

But  she,  gazing  ever  on  that  piteous,  limp  form,  sought 
to  silence  me  with  a  gesture.  "  God,  Damaris,  you  '11  never 
doubt  my  word?  Speak  —  will  you  not  speak  to  me?  He 
threatened  me  —  we  strove  together  and  the  pistol  went 
off  in  his  grasp  —  " 

"  Damned  murderer ! "  cried  one  of  the  gentlemen. 

After  this  I  held  my  peace,  despairing,  and  thus  we 
went  in  silence  until  before  us  was  Deliverance  Beach.  All 
at  once  I  caught  her  up  in  my  arms  and,  despite  her 
struggles,  began  to  bear  her  back  up  the  ascent.  For  a 
moment  only  she  strove,  uttering  no  word,  then,  hiding 
her  face  against  me,  suffered  me  to  bear  her  where  I  would. 
But  now  I  heard  shouts  and  cries  that  told  me  I  was 
pursued. 

"  You  are  mine,  Damaris !  "  I  cried.  "  Mine  henceforth, 
and  no  man  shall  take  you  from  me  whiles  I  live ! " 

Despite  my  haste  the  noise  of  pursuit  waxed  louder, 
spurring  me  to  greater  effort.  And  now  it  became  the  end 
and  aim  of  my  existence  to  reach  the  cave  in  time,  where- 
fore I  began  to  run,  on  and  up,  until  my  breath  came  in 
great,  panting  sobs ;  my  heart  seemed  bursting  and  in  my 
throbbing  brain  a  confusion  of  wild  thoughts : 

"Better  die  thus,  my  love,  upon  my  heart  —  this  ship 
shall  sail  without  us  —  the  door  of  the  cave  is  stout, 
God  be  thanked  and,  firing  from  the  loophole,  I  may  with- 
stand them  all  —  " 

Breathless  and  reeling,  I  gained  the  plateau  at  last,  but 
as  I  staggered  towards  the  cave  I  tripped  and  fell  heavily, 
crushing  her  beneath  me.     But  I  struggled  up  and,  bear- 


366     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

ing  her  within  the  cave,  laid  her  upon  my  bed  and,  closing 
the  door,  barred  it ;  then  I  reached  my  muskets  from  their 
rack  and  set  them  in  readiness.  This  done  and  finding  my 
lady  so  still  and  silent,  I  came  to  view  her  where  she  lay 
and,  peering  in  the  dimness,  uttered  a  great  cry  to  see  the 
pale  oval  of  her  cheek  horribly  bedabbled  with  blood. 
Trembling  in  a  sickness  of  fear  I  sank  beside  her  on  my 
knees,  then,  seeing  she  yet  breathed,  I  parted  the  silky  hair 
above  her  temple  and  so  came  on  a  cruel  gash.  Now  as  I 
strove  to  staunch  this  precious  blood  I  heard  again  the 
echoing  thunder  of  a  gun. 

"  Damaris ! "  said  I,  clasping  her  to  me  and  kissing  her 
pallid  lips.  "  Oh,  Damaris,  they  are  summoning  us  to 
England,  d'  ye  hear,  beloved,  d*  ye  hear.?  Well,  they  shall 
caU  in  vain;  they  shall  sail  without  us.  Love  hath  found 
us  and  here  with  Love  will  we  abide —  Wake,  beloved, 
wake  and  tell  me  you  would  have  it  so ! " 

But,  save  for  her  breathing,  and  despite  all  my  plead- 
ing and  caresses,  she  lay  like  one  dead.  So  I  brought 
water  and  bathed  her  face  and  throat  and  wrists,  yet  all 
to  no  purpose,  so  that  fear  grew  to  agony.  How  if  she 
die  thus  (thinks  I) .''  Why,  then,  I  can  die  likewise.  But 
again,  how  if  she  wake  and,  finding  the  ship  gone,  despise 
me  and,  in  place  of  her  lover,  look  on  me  as  her  gaoler.'' 
For  a  while  I  crouched  there,  my  head  bowed  on  my  fists, 
since  well  I  knew  that  England  might  shelter  me  never- 
more. And  yet  to  part  with  her  that  was  become  my  very 
life  — 

As  I  knelt  thus,  in  an  agony  of  indecision,  was  sudden 
tumult  of  knocking  upon  the  door  and  the  sound  of  fierce 
voices : 

*'  Come  forth,  murderer !     Open  to  us,  rogue  —  open ! " 

But  still  I  knelt  there,  heeding  only  the  hurry  of  my 
thoughts : 

"How  if  the  ship  sail  without  us?  How  if  she  wake 
and  know  me  for  her  gaoler?  How  might  I  endure  loneli- 
ness? How  part  with  her  that  was  become  my  life?  Be- 
like she  might  not  hate  me  —  '* 


I  Lose  My  Lady  367 

**  Open,  murderer,  open ! "  roared  the  voices. 

"  A  murderer !  How  if  she  believe  this  ?  Better  loneli- 
ness and  death  than  to  read  horror  of  me  in  her  every 
look!" 

And  now  beyond  the  door  was  silence,  and  then  I  heard 
Adam  hailing  me: 

"  Oho,  shipmate  —  unbar !  Tide  's  on  the  turn,  and  we 
must  aboard.  And  trust  me,  Martin,  for  your  comrade  as 
will  see  justice  done  ye.  So  come,  Martin,  you  and  my 
lady  and  let's  aboard?" 

"  Aye,  aye,  Adam !  '*  quoth  I.  "  Better  die  o'  solitude 
than  live  with  a  breaking  heart.    So  cheerily  it  is,  Adam !  " 

Then  rising,  I  took  my  dear  lady  in  my  arms  and,  hold- 
ing her  against  my  heart,  I  kissed  her  hair,  her  closed 
eyes,  her  pale,  unresponsive  lips  and  bearing  her  to  the 
door  contrived  to  open  it  and  stepped  forth  of  the  cave. 
And  here  I  found  Adam,  pistol  in  hand,  with  divers  of  his 
fellows  and  the  three  gentlemen  who  scowled  amain,  yet, 
eyeing  Adam's  weapon,  did  no  more  than  clench  their  fists 
and  mutter  of  gibbets  and  the  like. 

"  Look  you,  Adam,"  said  I,  "  my  lady  is  stunned  of  a 
fall,  but  't  will  be  no  great  matter  once  we  come  aboard  — 
let  us  go." 

"  Why  then.  Lord  love  you,  Martin  — hasten ! "  said  he, 
"  for  tide 's  falling,  and  it 's  all  we  shall  do  to  clear  the 
reef." 

Reaching  Deliverance  Sands  I  saw  the  boat  already 
launched  and  manned  and,  wading  into  the  water,  laid  my 
lady  in  the  stem  sheets. 

"  Come !  "  cried  Adam,  reaching  me  his  hand.  "  In 
with  ye,  man — " 

«  Not  I,  Adam." 

"  Why,  what  now,  comrade  ?  "  said  he,  staring. 

"Now  —  my  hand,  Adam,  and  a  prosperous  voyage  to 
you ! " 

"  How,  comrade,  will  ye  stay  marooned  in  this  desola- 
tion ?  "  and  he  stooped  to  peer  down  at  me.  "  Martin," 
said  he,  gripping  my  hand  and   staring  into  my  eyes, 


368     Black  Bartlemy's  Treasure 

"doth  this  mean  you  are  safer  here  by  reason  of  the 
mystery  of  Sir  Rupert's  sudden  end?" 

"  Mayhap ! "  said  I  and  loosed  his  hand.  "  What  think 
you?  " 

"  That  you  are  no  murderer,  comrade,  nor  ever  will  be ! " 

"  My  lady  said  as  much  once !  Farewell,  Adam ! "  And 
I  waded  back  to  the  beach. 

"  Give  way,  lads  ! "  cried  he.  "  Give  way !  "  I  heard  the 
splash  and  beat  of  their  oars  and  when  I  turned  to  look 
I  saw  them  halfway  across  the  lagoon. 

Then  I  turned  and  wandered  aimlessly  along  these  white 
sands  that  had  known  so  often  the  light  tread  of  her 
pretty  feet.  Very  slowly  I  went  with  eyes  that  saw  not, 
ears  that  heard  not  and  my  mind  a  confusion  of  bitter 
thoughts. 

At  last  I  reached  the  little  plateau  and  from  this 
eminence  beheld  the  ship  standing  away  under  a  press  of 
sail  and  saw  that  night  was  at  hand.  Suddenly  as  I 
watched,  the  ship,  her  lofty  masts  and  gleaming  canvas 
swam  all  blurred  and  misty  on  my  sight  and,  sinking  to 
my  knees,  I  bowed  my  head. 

"  Almighty  God ! "  said  I.  **  Thou  hast  shown  unto  me 
the  wonder  of  love  and  the  heaven  it  might  have  been,  but 
since  love  is  not  for  me,  teach  me  how  I  may  be  avenged — " 

But  now,  even  as  I  prayed  thus,  my  voice  brake  upon  a 
great  sob,  insomuch  that  I  might  pray  no  more.  There- 
fore I  cast  myself  upon  my  face,  forgetting  all  things  but 
my  great  and  bitter  loneliness. 

And  so  came  night  and  shut  me  in. 

Here  then  I  make  an  end  of  this  narrative  of  Black 
Bartlemy's  Treasure,  but  how  and  in  what  manner  I  came 
to  my  vengeance  is  yet  to  tell. 


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